.1 


II 

1 


Report  of  the  Commission 

to  China 


October,  1927 — March,  1928 


Issued  by  the 

Department  of  Missions 
OF  THE  National  Council 


281  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York 

Published  by  the  Department  of  Publicity 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/reportofcommissiOOepis 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Itinerary  and  Introduction 

Evangelistic  Work 

Training  and  Support  of^ Native  Workers 

Clergy 

Catechists  and  Bible-women 

Salaries  of  Native  Workers 

The  Promotion  of  Self-support 

Chinese  Control 

Action  with  Regard  to  Evangelistic  Work 

Educational  Work 

Educational  Regulations 

A Chinese  Official  View  of  Christian  Education 

Christian  Education  in  China  and  Japan 

Religious  Freedom 

Action  with  Regard  to  Educational  Work 

Medical  Work 

Action  with  Regard  to  Medical  W ork 

Church  Property  and  Titles 

Insurance ' 

Property  Losses  and  Reparations 

Personal  Losses  and  Reparations 

Action  with  Regard  to  Reparations 

Conclusion 

Letter  and  Memorandum  on  Education  from  Bishops  Roots,  Huntington 
and  Gilman 

Peking  Regulations  on  Education 

Canton  and  Nanking  Regulations  on  Education 


5 

8 

8 

8 

11 

12 

13 

15 

17 

19 

20 

23 

24 
29 

33 

34 

37 

38 

39 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

46 

47 


Report  of  the  Commis- 
X sion  to  China  was  submitted 
to  the  Department  of  Missions  on 
April  24,  1928,  and  to  the  National 
Council  on  April  25,  1928. 

The  action  taken  upon  each  sec- 
tion of  the  Report  immediately 
follows  the  section. 


REPORT  OF  THE  COxMMISSION  OF  THE 
DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSIONS  TO 
CONFER  WITH  THE  BISHOPS 
IN  CHINA 


The  Commission  aii'anged  by  the  Department  of  Missions*  at  the 
request  of  the  Bishops  in  China  to  confer  with  them  concerning  the 
conditions  in  the  China  Mission,  respectfully  submits  the  following 
report : 


Itinerary  in  China 


The  Commission  sailed  from  Vancouver  on  October  13th,  1927,  spent 
October  25th  and  26th  in  Japan  and  arrived  in  Shanghai  on  October  29th. 
Its  time  in  China  was  divided  as  follows: 


Diocese  of  Shanghai : 

T ravel  'from  Shanghai 
to  Hankow: 

Diocese  of  Hankow: 
Travel  from  Hankow 
to  Wuhu : 

Diocese  of  Anking: 
Travel  to  Shanghai: 


October  29 — November  14 
December  1 — December  10 

November  14 — November  20 
November  20 — November  26 

November  26 — November  28 
November  28 — November  30 
November  30 — December  1 


Travel  to  Shanghai  included  a visit  of  several  hours  to  Nanking.  On 
the  way  to  Hankow  part  of  November  17th  was  spent  in  Wuhu  and  part 
of  November  19th  in  Kiukiang,  both  in  the  Diocese  of  Anking. 

On  the  journey  from  Shanghai  to  Hankow  the  Commission  was  accom- 
panied by  Bishop  Huntington  of  the  Diocese  of  Anking,  Mr.'  M.  P.  Walker, 
Treasurer  of  the  China  Mission,  and  Miss  Regina  B.  Lustgarten  of  the 
Diocese  of  Hankow,  who  was  kindly  loaned  to  the  Commission  by  Bishop 
Roots,  to  act  as  its  secretary  and  remained  with  the  Commission  during  its 
visits  in  China  and  to  the  Philippine  Islands.  Mr.  Walker  remained  with  the 
Commission  until  its  return  to.  Shanghai  on  December  1st. 

Of  the  forty-two  days  the  Commission  was  in  China,  twenty-five  were 
spent  in  Shanghai.  The  reasons  for  this  were : 

( 1 ) Most  of  the  missionaries  remaining  in  China  were  residing  in 
Shanghai  at  the  time  of  the  Commission’s  visit.  The  only  places  outside  of 
that  city  where  missionaries  were  in  residence  were  Hankow,  where  sixteen 
members  of  the  Hankow  and  Anking  staff  were  living,  and  Wuhu,  where 
there  were  two.  Shanghai,  therefore,  gave  better  opportunity  than  any  other 
center  for  personal  and  group  conferences. 

(2)  Travel  was  slow  and  uncertain.  The  Commission  visited  every 
place  in  the  three  dioceses  in  China  where  Americans  were  in  residence.  The 
judgment  of  the  members  of  the  Commission  agreed  with  the  advice  of 
the  Bishops  that  it  would  be  unwise  to  attempt  to  visit  places  like  Anking, 

*Tliis  action  was  taken  at  a special  meeting  of  the  Department  of  Missions,  IMarch  18,  1927. 

5 


6 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


Ichang  and  Shasi,  where  steamer  connections  were  uncertain  and  where  there 
was  danger  of  much  loss  of  valuable  time. 

(3)  Shanghai  is  the  headquarters  for  all  the  larger  missions  in  China 
and  was  the  best  place  to  meet  the  administrators  and  missionaries  of  other 
communions  than  our  own. 

Use  of  Time  in  the  Diocese  of  Shanghai 

During  the  days  spent  in  Shanghai  the  Commission  found  its  time  fully 
occupied.  It  had  the  privilege  of  attending  the  sessions  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  on  October  31st.  It  met  with 
the  House  of  Bishops  of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  on  November  1-4. 
It  was  present  at  the  consecration  of  Bishop  Ding  as  Assistant  Bishop  in 
Fukien.  On  November  5th,  it  held  a preliminary  conference  with  the  Bishops 
of  Hankow,  Anking  and  Shanghai.  In  December  it  met  with  the  same  three 
Bishops  and  the  Bishop  Suffragan  of  Hankow  on  parts  of  five  days.  Three 
days  were  given  to  personal  interviews  with  Chinese  members  of  the 
Shanghai  staff  and  to  the  lay  members  of  congregations,  both  men  and 
women.  Conferences  lasting  one  day  each  were  held  in  Shanghai  with 
the  Chinese  and  American  workers  of  the  evangelistic,  educational  and  medical 
staffs. 

Many  personal  conferences  were  held  with  Chinese  and  foreigners  that 
were  not  included  in  the  regular  program  of  appointments. 

V'isits  were  paid  on  Sundays  to  St.  Peter’s  Church  and  the  Church  of 
Our  Saviour,  Shanghai,  and  to  Grace  Church,  Soochow. 

St.  Luke’s  Hospital  and  St.  Elizabeth’s  Hospital  in  Shanghai  were 
visited  and  inspected. 

Two  conferences  were  held  with  representatives  of  the  Alumni  Commit- 
tee of  St.  John’s  University. 

Conferences  were  held  with  the  administrators  of  the  various  mission 
bodies  having  headquarters  in  Shanghai  and  with  the  officers  of  the  China 
Christian  Educational  Association. 

Use  of  Time  in  the  Diocese  of  Hankow 

In  the  Diocese  of  Hankow  the  Commission  met  with  the  diocesan  Execu- 
tive Council  for  a day  and  a half.  It  also  met  the  Hankow  Clergy  Club, 
the  Hankow  branch  of  the  Women’s  Missionary  Service  League  and  with 
the  members  of  the  foreign  staff.  It  held  conferences  with  committees  repre- 
senting the  clergy,  catechists,  biblewomen  and  teachers. 

It  conferred  with  the  representatives  of  other  mission  bodies  and  held 
many  personal  conferences  with  missionaries,  both  Chinese  and  American. 

It  met  a large  congregation  in  St.  Paul’s  Cathedral,  which  represented 
all  the  Wuhan  congregations.  It  later  had  the  opportunity  of  meeting  some 
of  the  members  of  St.  Michael’s  Church  in  Wuchang. 

It  visited  all  the  churches  in  Wuchang  and  Hankow  as  well  as  Boone 
Lhiiversity,  St.  Hilda’s  School  and  the  Church  General  Hospital. 

Use  of  Time  in  the  Diocese  of  Anking 

In  the  Diocese  of  Anking  the  Commission  inspected  the  badly  damaged 
property  of  St.  John’s  Church,  Kiukiang,  St.  John’s  Middle  School  and  the 
adjoining  residences. 


Report  of  the  Commission 


7 


Two  very  profitable  days  were  spent  in  Wuhu  in  a conference  with  the 
American  members  of  the  Anking  staff  who  had  come  from  Shanghai  for 
the  purpose,  and  most  of  the  Chinese  clergy  of  the  diocese. 

Everywhere  the  Commission  enjoyed  the  unfailing  hospitality  of  Ameri- 
can friends,  who  opened  their  homes  to  its  members,  and  of  the  Chinese  who 
graciously  arranged  for  characteristic  Chinese  feasts. 

In  addition  to  the  time  spent  within  the  China  dioceses  related  to  our 
own  Church,  the  Commissioji  was  in  Hong  Kong  for  two  days  en  route  to 
the  Philippine  Islands,  and  in  Canton  for  one  day  on  the  return  journey. 

Vast  and  Complex  Problems 

China’s  problems  are  so  vast  and  varied  that  they  cannot  be  adequately 
defined  or  discussed  in  a brief  report;  the  mission  work  of  all  communions  is 
carried  on  amidst  conditions  impossible  for  the  average  westerner  to  visualize 
or  understand. 

There  has  been  no  effective  central  government  for  several  years.  No 
less  than  ten  separate  governments  were  in  existence  in  December,  1927. 
During  the  sixteen  years  sihee  1912,  when  the  Chinese  republic  came  into 
existence,  there  have  been  eight  presidents  and  about  forty-five  cabinets,  with 
an  average  life  of  four  months.  There  is  no  constitution,  no  representative 
assembly,  no  adequate  administration  of  justice. 

One  result  is  that  disorder,  banditry  and  crimes  of  violence  are  wide- 
spread and  frequent.  China’s  patient  and  industrious  millions  see  their  homes 
robbed  and  often  destroyed,  their  crops  carried  off  or  ruined,  their  business 
wrecked,  their  families  broken  up  and  their  women  folk  shockingly  mis- 
treated. Often  whole  communities  are  wiped  out  with  utmost  cruelty.  The 
soldiers  who  should  be  the  protectors  of  the  people  are  their  greatest 
oppressors. 

Civil  leaders,  if  any  can  be  found,  are  practically  impotent.  Military 
despots  are  in  the  saddle.  Assurances  given  by  civil  authorities  that  property 
will  be  protected,  or  in  cases  where  it  has  been  occupied,  will  be  restored, 
are  ignored  by  the  militar}L 

Russian  intrigue  and  influence  have  everywhere  brought  little  but  destruc- 
tion and  sorrow  to  the  people.  Russia’s  atheistic  communism  has  sought  to 
influence  the  masses  against  all  religion. 

In  the  face  of  such  conditions  the  wonder  is  that  the  Christian  com- 
munity in  China  has  been  able  to  carry  on  at  all.  That  it  has  carried  on  is 
convincing  evidence  of  the  reality  of  its  faith  and  courage. 


I.  EVANGELISTIC  WORK 


The  withdrawal  of  the  missionaries  in  the  winter  of  1927  from  their 
stations  in  the  interior  did  not  stop  parochial  activities.  Nowhere  were 
Church  services  and  the  sessions  of  the  primary  schools  suspended  except  dur- 
ing the  actual  military  occupation  of  the  mission  compounds.  In  many  cases, 
even  when  the  soldiers  were  in  possession  of  the  buildings,  the  Sunday  services 
were  carried  on.  The  attendance  has  naturally  fallen  off.  When  it  was 
dangerous  for  the  civilian  to  appear  on  the  streets  and  worship  had  to  be 
conducted  behind  barred  doors,  while  anti-Christian  demonstrations  were 
staged  in  front  of  the  churches,  large  congregations  could  not  be  ex- 
pected. 

The  faith  of  many  was  tested  and  there  were  some  defections.  The 
loyalty  of  the  great  body  of  Chinese  Christians  has  been  remarkable.  The 
Chinese  clergy  and  other  workers  have  remained  at  their  posts  and  have  not 
only  faithfully  shepherded  their  congregations  but  by  their  firmness  and 
good  sense  have  protected  Church  property  and  averted  much  damage. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Shanghai,  where  the  foreign  defense  force  seemed 
to  offer  a measure  of  protection,  this  might  have  been  expected.  Bishop  Roots 
has  been  able  to  remain  continuously  at  Hankow  and  the  encouragement  of 
his  presence  was  felt  throughout  the  region.  In  the  Diocese  of  Anking,  from 
which  it  was  necessary  to  withdraw  all  foreigners,  and  even  in  the  more  re- 
mote parts,  the  fidelity  of  the  Chinese  staff,  save  in  few  instances,  has  been 
unshaken.  Too  much  praise  for  their  steadfastness  cannot  be  given  to  them. 

In  considering  the  future  of  the  evangelistic  work  in  China  as  dis- 
tinguished from  that  which  is  institutional,  three  topics  appear  to  the  Com- 
mission to  require  discussion: 

( 1 )  The  training  and  support  of  native  workers. 

(2)  The  promotion  of  self-support. 

(3)  The  transfer  of  control  to  the  Chinese  Christians. 

(1)  The  Training  and  Support  of  Native  Workers 
(a)  The  Clergy: 

All  the  American  bishops  agreed  that  a demand  for  a large  and  rapid 
increase  of  Chinese  clergy  no  longer,  exists.  The  places  of  those  who  will 
soon  reach  the  age  of  retirement  must  be  supplied  and  the  normal  growth 
of  the  Church  in  the  sphere  of  our  responsibility  must  be  provided  for.  To 
ordain  more  than  the  number  needed  to  meet  these  conditions  would  be  an 
embarrassment. 

Speaking  at  the  Evangelistic  Conference  held  with  the  Commission  in 
Shanghai,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tong,  Acting  Dean  of  the  Central  Theological 
School,  said  that  he  felt  that  the  Church  had  extended  too  rapidly  in  the 
beginning  by  opening  up  too  many  new  stations  and  scattering  the  Church’s 
forces  too  widely.  The  situation  now  called  for  intensive  work  with  the 
emphasis  on  the  quality  rather  than  the  quantity  of  the  clergy. 

At  present  there  are  three  theological  schools  in  the  Yangtze  Valley, 
that  at  Boone  University,  Wuchang,  the  Central  Theological  School  at 

8 


Evangelistic  Work 


9 


Nanking  and  one  at  St.  John’s  University.  The  Boone  institution  was  tem- 
porarily closed  in  the  spring  of  1927.  The  five  candidates  from  the  Diocese 
of  Hankow  together  with  the  three  from  the  Diocese  of  Anking  are  pursuing 
their  studies  with  six  Shanghai  candidates  at  St.  John’s  University,  under 
the  direction  of  Rev._Dr.  John  W.  Nichols.  Because  of  conditions  in  Nan- 
king, the  Central  Theological  School  moved  bodily  about  the  same  time  to 
the  St.  John’s  University  compound  at  Jessfield.  Its  fourteen  students  are 
studjdng  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tong.  The  apparent  anomaly 
of  two  schools  carried  on  side  by  side,  is  made  necessary  by  the  fact  that 
in  the  one  institution  the  instruction  is  in  English  and  in  the  other  in 
Chinese. 

In  the  opinion  of  some  Chinese  and  Americans,  in  which  the  Commis- 
sion understood  all  the  American  Bishops  agreed,  the  requirements  of  all  three 
dioceses  could  be  met  by  concentrating  the  training  of  the  clergy  in  one  insti- 
tution, namely  the  Central  Theological  School  at  Nanking.  The  new  build- 
ings of  this  school  were  completed  early  in  1927  and  have  since  been  con- 
tinuously occupied  by  soldiers.  At  the  time  of  the  Commission’s  visit,  the 
compound  was  a military  camp.  Boys  in  ragged  and  dirty  uniforms  were 
quartered  in  the  houses,  appropriating  for  fuel  such  wood  work  as  seemed  to 
them  superfluous,  kindling  their  cooking  fires  in  any  convenient  angle  of  the 
buildings  and  drilling  on  the  neglected  grounds.  If  this  military  occupation 
is  not  prolonged,  the  premises  can  be  rehabilitated  probably  at  a moderate 
cost,  as  the  fabric  does  not  seem  to  be  seriously  damaged.  The  buildings 
are  adequate  for  immediate  need  and  the  grounds  are  sufficient  for  necessary 
expansion.  The  time  seems  ripe  for  consolidation  of  our  theological  instruc- 
tion in  this  one  institution. 

The  prejudice  against  the  use  of  English  in  schools,  which,  fostered  by 
a mistaken  patriotism,  was  active  several  months  ago,  has  greatly  diminished. 
So  far  as  a training  for  the  ministry  is  concerned,  until  many  more  standard 
works  have  been  translated  into  Chinese,  or  better  still,  produced  by  native 
authors,  the  ability  to  read  English  is  indispensable  to  the  student.  It  was 
the  opinion  of  Bishop  Roots,  in  which  the  other  American  Bishops  concurred, 
that  the  ministry  must  have  some  English  education.  In  the  consolidated 
institution,  therefore,  English  would  have  a large  place  in  the  curriculum. 

It  is  also  the  opinion  of  the  Bishops  that  the  intellectual  standard  should 
be  kept  high  and  a normal  requisite  for  matriculation  should  be  graduation 
from  Boone  or  St.  John’s  University  or  from  an  institution  of  similar  rank. 
This  would  not  mean  the  ordination  of  none  but  college  graduates.  Excep- 
tional circumstances,  in  China  as  in  the  United  States,  warrant  the  ordination 
of  men  whose  qualifications  give  promise  of  usefulness  in  the  ministry  in  spite 
of  the  absence  of  university  training.  The  Bishops  and  the  Standing  Com- 
mittees must  be  the  judges  in  such  cases.  But  the  need  for  an  educated  min- 
istry is  so  insistent  that  deviation  from  a normal  standard  must  be  allowed 
with  caution. 

Excellent  as  has  been  the  work  done  in  the  training  of  the  clergy  for 
the  work  in  China,  improvements  can  undoubtedly  be  made.  With  changing 
social  conditions  in  China  it  would  seem  reasonable  to  expect  that  in  the  future 
candidates  for  the  ministry  should  be,  as  a rule,  unmarried  and  the  Church 
relieved  of  the  necessity  of  supporting  the  family  during  the  prospective  clergy- 
man’s course  of  study,  as  is  often  the  case  at  present.  The  training  of  un- 
married men  involves  also  less  responsibility  for  the  Church  in  the  event  that 


10  Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 

the  man  proves,  during  the  time  of  training,  not  likely  to  be  successful  in  the 
pastoral  office. 

With  one  such  well  equipped  theological  school,  the  advisability  of  send- 
ing men  to  the  United  States,  at  the  expense  of  the  Church,  would  be  less 
apparent.  There  will  always  be  a few  students  of  unusual  attainments,  who 
will  become  more  useful  to  the  Church  if  they  are  afforded  the  advantage  of 
travel  and  post-graduate  study.  Such  picked  men,  particularly  if  they  have 
been  tested  by  eight  or  ten  years  of  parish  work,  might  profitably  be  given  a 
period  of  foreign  study. 

While  some  of  the  Chinese  clergy  who  have  studied  abroad  have  profited 
greatly  by  their  experience  as  indicated  by  the  work  they  have  done  after 
their  return  to  China,  it  is  unfortunately  true  that  in  other  instances  an  undue 
sense  of  personal  importance,  has  shown  that  the  experience  has  hindered 
rather  than  helped  future  usefulness. 

It  may  be  the  time  has  come  for  the  Department  of  Missions  to  agree 
with  the  Bishops  in  China  that  it  will  provide  support  for  a certain  number 
of  Chinese  in  each  diocese,  on  the  present  scale  of  salaries,  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  total  so  provided  may  be  used  for  the  support  of  a larger 
number  of  clergy,  if  desired,  but  not  for  a smaller  number  than  originally 
agreed  to. 

Unless  political  and  economic  conditions  in  China  improve  greatly  in 
the  near  future,  it  may  be  necessary  and  wise  to  suspend,  temporarily,  the 
training  of  Chinese  for  the  ministry,  after  the  23  students  at  present  enrolled 
in  the  three  theological  schools  have  been  graduated.  These  students  are  dis- 
tributed as  follows: 


St.  John’s 

T.S. 

Boone 

T.S. 

Central 

T.S. 

Total 

Shanghai  . . . . 

2 

0 

5 

7 

Hankow  

0 

5 

2 

7 

Anking  

2 

3 

4 

9 

Total  . . . 

4 

8 

11 

23 

Number  of  candidates  to  graduate 

; in  June, 

1928: 

St.  John’s 

T.S. 

Boone 

T.S. 

Central 

T.S. 

Total 

Shanghai  . . . . 

0 

0 

2 

2 

Hankow  

0 

4 

1 

5 

Anking  

1 

1 

4 

6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Total  . . . 

1 

5 

7 

13 

Number  of  candidates  to  graduate  in  June. 

, 1929: 

St.  John’s 

T.  S. 

Boone 

T.S. 

Central 

T.S. 

Total 

Shanghai  . . . , 

2 

0 

3 

5 

Hankow  

0 

1 

1 

2 

Anking  

1 

2 

0 

3 

Total  . . , 

3 

3 

4 

10 

Central  Theological  School  has  three  students  from  other  dioceses.  St. 
John’s  has  three  students  from  Fukien. 


Evangelistic  IF ork 


11 


No  new  students  were  admitted  in  the  autumn  of  1927.  There  are 
therefore  only  two  classes  at  present  in  the  three  schools.  There  are  no  stu- 
dents to  graduate  in  1930. 

There  seems  to  be  an  increasing  tendency  in  some  parts  of  China  for 
Chinese  clergy  to  concentrate  in  larger  centers  and  to  engage  in  work  in 
institutions  or  in  work  of  educational,  secretarial  or  executive  character  rather 
than  in  necessary  parochial  and  evangelistic  activities. 

(b)  Catechists  and  Bibleiuomen: 

There  is  much  dissatisfaction  with  the  status  of  catechists  and  bible- 
women.  This  was  expressed  by  both  native  and  foreign  workers.  Drawn  in 
many  cases  from  the  less  privileged  people,  frequently  of  small  ability,  with 
training  necessarily  limited  to  two  or  three  5rears,  their  continuance  was  ques- 
tioned more  than  once.  This  was  specially  true  of  the  catechists.  Never- 
theless, it  should  be  remembered  that  some  of  the  faithful  and  successful 
clergy  of  today  began  their  ministry  as  catechists. 

In  some  cases  the  catechist  has  been  doing  work  which  the  priest  himself 
ought  to  be  doing.  In  other  cases  they  have  been  called  upon  by  the  Chinese 
clergymen  to  do  work  of  a general  utility  character  which  could  be  done  by 
lay  members  of  the  parish,  by  the  sexton  or  the  personal  servant  of  the  clerg>'- 
man.  Catechists  have  done  useful  work  in  arranging  and  conducting  preach- 
ing services  for  non-Christians,  in  visiting  non-Christian  homes,  in  giving 
preliminary  instruction  in  Christian  faith  and  living.  They  cannot,  however, 
take  the  place  of  the  clergyman  in  pastoral  visiting,  or  in  preparing  candidates 
for  baptism  or  similar  important  pastoral  duties. 

When  a Chinese  clerg^^man  is  in  charge  of  a parish  and  has  the  assistance 
of  a catechist,  there  is  a question  whether  this  insures  the  best  development 
of  clerical  ability  and  activity.  In  a large  parish  where  the  clergyman  needs 
assistance,  it  can  usually  be  given  better  by  a deacon  than  by  a catechist.  At 
the  present  stage  of  the  development  of  the  Church  in  China  the  question 
may  fairly  be  raised  whether  it  is  wise  to  continue  training  catechists.  Many 
feel  that  the  present  need  is  for  well  trained  clergy  rather  than  for  partially 
trained,  paid  lay  workers. 

In  practically  every  country  mission  station,  the  primary  school  con- 
ducted by  the  Church  is  one  of  the  most  important  features  of  its  work.  Fre- 
quently there  is  hardly  need  in  such  small  places  for  both  a catechist  and 
teacher.  It  would  seem  practicable  to  give  the  teacher  such  additional  train- 
ing as  would  enable  him  to  discharge  effectively  the  duties  now  discharged  by 
the  catechist.  Such  a combination  of  duties  would  not  merely  mean  economy. 
More  important  would  be  the  fact  that  the  teacher  would  have  some  definite 
religious  work  to  do  and  would  be  a man  of  better  education  than  the  aver- 
age catechist. 

In  St.  Peter’s  parish  in  Shanghai,  a self-supporting  congregation,  the 
services  of  a catechist  have  been  dispensed  with.  The  congregation  is  divided 
into  groups,  each  with  its  volunteer  leader,  who  organizes  meetings  in  private 
homes  to  which  non-Christians  of  the  neighborhood  are  invited.  Where  the 
congregation  is  strong,  such  an  arrangement  is  to  be  commended,  but  in  weak 
city  missions  and  particularly  in  country  villages,  scarcely  touched  as  yet  by 
the  Church’s  influence,  there  is  a field  for  paid  lay  workers,  both  men  and 
women.  It  is  evident  that  great  care  must  be  used  in  the  selection  of  candi- 
dates for  such  positions,  both  for  their  character  and  ability,  and  that  such  a 


12 


Report  of  the  Comvihsion  to  China 


measure  of  instruction  must  be  afforded  them  and  such  a reasonable  stipend 
paid  as  will  insure  their  self-respect  and  maintain  the  dignity  of  their  calling. 

(c)  Salaries  of  Native  W orkers: 

Due  in  part  to  the  high  cost  of  supporting  armies  in  China,  to  the  un- 
regulated imposition  of  taxes  and  to  frequent  looting  and  destruction  of  crops 
and  of  property,  the  cost  of  living  in  China  has  increased  to  some  extent  in 
the  last  few  years. 

From  both  clergy  and  lay  workers,  particularly  in  Hankow,  complaints 
have  reached  the  Commission  that  stipends  are  no  longer  adequate  to  meet 
living  expenses.  Anxiety  was  expressed  for  the  education  of  their  children, 
for  medical  allowances  and  for  provision  for  old  age. 

All  this  was  set  forth  in  a letter  addressed  to  the  Commission  by  the 
Hankow  Clergy  Club.  The  Commission  regarded  this  as  a private  com- 
munication, discussed  it  with  a committee  of  the  Hankow  clergy  and  has 
been  gathering  information  with  regard  to  the  salary  scale  of  other  com- 
munions as  compared  with  our  own  and  the  income  provided  for  the  clergy 
as  compared  with  the  income  of  the  average  members  of  their  congrega- 
tions. The  Commission  was  astonished  to  find  that  this  letter  had  been  made 
public. 

The  investigation  of  the  Commission  revealed  the  fact  that  the  salaries 
provided  through  the  appropriations  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States  are 
considerably  larger  than  the  salaries  provided  by  the  mission  boards  of  other 
communions,  including  the  Church  of  England.  It  is  obvious  that  some  em- 
barrassment may  result  in  the  other  dioceses  of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung 
H ui  if  further  increases  are  made  in  the  salary  scale  of  the  Dioceses  of  Han- 
kow, Anking  and  Shanghai.  In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  say  that  the 
Commission  received  no  formal  request  for  increased  financial  support  from 
the  Chinese  staff,  clerical  or  lay,  in  the  Dioceses  of  Anking  and  Shanghai. 

There  can  be  no  question  of  the  justice  of  providing  a reasonable  support 
for  faithful  Chinese  workers.  On  the  other  hand,  care  must  be  taken  to 
avoid  creating  standards  of  support  which  the  Church  in  China  would  be 
unable  to  maintain,  except  in  the  case  of  a few  of  the  larger  city  congrega- 
tions. 

With  reference  to  sick  benefits  and  old  age  pensions,  the  Commission 
has  no  recommendation  to  make.  It  would  be  highly  desirable  for  the  Chung 
Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  to  have  a pension  fund  for  the  Chinese  clerical  and 
lay  workers.  The  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  should  act  as  a unit  and 
should  take  the  initiative.  Indeed,  an  ineffective  beginning  has  been  made. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  any  adequate  policy  can  be  devised  without  the  co- 
operation of  the  missionary  organizations  in  the  United  States,  Canada  and 
England. 

The  entire  question  of  salaries  for  native  workers  should  be  considered 
in  relation  to  the  stipends  paid  not  only  by  the  English  and  Canadian  Church 
missionary  organizations  at  work  in  China  but  also  by  other  Christian  bodies 
at  work  in  China. 

After  conference  with  the  Bishops  of  Shanghai,  Hankow,  and  Anking, 
your  Commission  believes  that  an  immediate  readjustment  of  salaries  to  be 
reasonable  in  the  case  of  catechists,  teachers  and  biblewomen,  and  recommends 
the  following  scale  of  stipends,  suggested  by  the  Bishops  and  to  go  into  effect 
beginning  March  1,  1928: 


13 


Evangelistic  IF ork 


Proposed  New  Scale  as  Recommended  by  the  Bishops 


Present  Salary 

New  Salary 

Increase 

per  month 

per  month 

per  month 

Cathechists 

First  Grade 

$28.00 

$32.00 

$ 4.00 

Second  Grade... 

23.00 

30.00 

7.00 

Third  Grade.  . . . 

18.00 

28.00 

10.00 

Men  Teachers 

First  Grade 

■'  28.00 

32.00 

4.00 

Second  Grade.  . . 

23.00 

30.00 

7.00 

Third  Grade.  . . . 

18.00 

28.00 

10.00 

Women  Teachers 

First  Grade 

22.00 

Second  Grade... 

20.00 

Third  Grade.  . . . 

18.00 

Biblewomen 

First  Grade 

18.00 

22.00 

4.00 

Second  Grade... 

15.00 

20.00 

5.00 

Third  Grade.  . . . 

13.00 

18.00 

5.00 

All  the  foregoing  amounts  are  in  Mexican  Dollars. 

(2)  The  Promotion  of  Self-Support 

The  slow  growth  of  self-support  in  the  Chinese  Church  is  a matter  of 
concern  both  to  the  foreign  missionaries  and  to  the  native  Christians. 


Number  of  Number  of  Self-supporting 

Diocese  Congregations  Baptized  Members  Congregations 

Anking 29  3,704  none 

Hankow  44  6,888  1 

Shanghai  53  6,875  3 


Total  126  17,467  4 


It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  China  as  a whole  is  desperately  poor. 
Great  multitudes  live  on  the  margin  of  subsistence.  The  distress  has  been 
tremendously  increased  by  the  horrors  of  civil  war  and  the  present  state  of 
anarchy.  While  rival  war  lords  have  been  enriching  themselves,  the  people 
have  suffered  without  redress.  The  financial  ability  of  the  country  has  been 
impaired. 

Nevertheless,  poverty  alone  does  not  account  for  the  material  weakness 
of  the  Church.  Our  congregations  are  made  up  for  the  most  part  of  people, 
the  majority  of  whom  are  middle  class,  from  the  Chinese  point  of  view. 
There  are  many  in  the  congregations  who  are  very  poor  and  some  who  are 
relatively  well-to-do.  At  a conference  on  evangelistic  work  held  in  Shanghai 
with  the  Commission,  the  Rev.  T.  M.  Tong  remarked  that  wealthy  Chinese 
Christians  had  never  been  trained  to  give.  Poor  Christians  in  Shanghai  give 
more,  proportionately,  than  the  rich.  In  the  past  the  Christians  were  not 
made  to  give  when  they  entered  the  Church.  They  have  learned  to  get  rather 
than  to  give.  Frankly  stated,  this  means  two  things.  They  have  fallen  into 
the  habit  of  thinking  that  spiritual  privileges  were  to  be  provided  for  them 
instead  of  their  accepting  responsibility  to  provide  them.  In  some  cases  the 
generosity  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States  has  been  misunderstood  by  the 
Chinese  Christians.  In  general  the  principle  of  stewardship  seems  to  have 


14 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


been  insufficiently  emphasized  by  the  Chinese  clergy  and  American  missionaries. 

At  the  conference  referred  to,  Mrs.  Chang,  the  diocesan  President  of  the 
Women’s  Missionary  Service  League  said:  “The  use  of  too  much  foreign 
money  hinders  the  movement  of  the  Church  towards  self-support.” 

At  a meeting  with  the  American  Bishops,  Bishop  Graves  of  Shanghai 
expressed  the  opinion  that  no  more  churches  should  be  built  for  the  Chinese 
exclusively  by  means  of  gifts  from  the  United  States. 

Both  of  these  remarks,  representing  as  they  do  the  best  opinion  of  native 
and  foreign  workers,  imply  that  it  is  probable  that  it  will  not  be  necessary 
for  the  Church  in  the  United  States  in  the  future  to  give  as  largely  as  in  the 
past  for  building  churches  in  China.  Chinese  Christians  may  reasonably  be 
expected  to  provide  a large  part  of  the  money  needed  for  this  purpose.  It 
will  be  necessary  for  the  Church  in  the  United  States  to  continue  its  gifts  not 
only  for  the  maintenance  but  for  the  equipment  of  schools,  colleges  and  hos- 
pitals. In  special  instances  such  help  should  also  be  given  for  the  erection  of 
churches. 

A fact  that  impressed  the  Commission  in  the  Diocese  of  Hankow  was 
that  in  eveiy  Chinese  proposal  involving  the  expenditure  of  money,  it  was 
assumed  that  the  American  Church  would  supply  the  funds.  Such  an  attitude 
indicates  the  failure  of  the  native  Christians  to  achieve  a sense  of  financial 
responsibility. 

It  seems  to  the  Commission  that  the  time  has  come  to  throw  as  much  as 
l^ossible  of  the  financial  burden  of  carrying  on  the  Christian  enterprise  in 
China  upon  the  native  constituency. 

With  this  in  view  the  Commission  addressed  a letter  to  the  three  diocesan 
Bishops  containing  three  suggestions  for  developing  self-support: 

(1)  That  beginning  not  later  than  1930,  financial  aid  to 
existing  congregations  for  the  support  of  clergy,  catechists  and 
biblewomen  and  other  workers,  be  reduced  by  five  per  cent 
each  year  through  a period  of  twenty  years. 

(2)  That  wherever  sextons  are  supported  by  funds  from 
America,  this  expense  be  assumed  at  once  by  the  congregations. 

(3)  That  Chinese  congregations  should  be  required  to  pay 
whatever  amount  they  can  towards  the  support  of  their  clergy, 
instead  of  allowing  them  to  receive  full  salary  from  mission 
funds  while  the  amount  that  might  be  paid  by  the  congregation 
is  set  aside  as  a parochial  endowment  fund.  The  Commission 
learned  that  when  the  Bishops  have  deprecated  this  method, 
some  congregations  have  objected  to  a change,  insisting  upon  the 
importance  of  securing  endowments  for  the  future. 

The  diocesan  authorities  may  well  be  encouraged  to  promote  the  train- 
ing of  the  native  congregations  in  the  principles  of  budget  making.  It  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  learn  that  many  of  the  Chinese  congregations  are  giving 
consideration  to  the  making  of  budgets.  In  some  cases  a modified  form  of 
the  Every  Member  Canvass  is  being  used,  and  the  weekly  envelope  offering  is 
a vogue.  As  a rule,  however,  monthly  subscriptions  are  preferred,  on  the 
ground  that  in  the  case  of  salaried  people  it  is  more  convenient  to  pay 
monthly.  Necessity  still  exists  for  throwing  larger  responsibility  for  raising 
and  dispensing  local  funds  on  the  people,  in  the  conviction  that  in  no  other 
way  will  the  precepts  of  stewardship  be  so  well  illustrated  and  enforced. 


Evangelistic  Work 


15 


(3)  Chinese  Control 

That  one  aim  of  mission  work  in  China  should  be  the  creation  of  a self- 
directing as  well  as  a self-supporting  Church  may  be  taken  for  granted.  But 
to  turn  over  to  people,  not  prepared  to  assume  it,  the  control  of  property 
they  have  not  paid  for,  and  the  management  of  large  enterprises  they  have 
not  established,  would  be  to  undo  the  work  of  years  and  set  back  the  con- 
version of  China  for  generations.  The  best  judgment  of  the  Chinese  them- 
selves endorses  this  opinion.  Tl^e  Chinese  agitation  for  control  is  confined  to 
a few  extremists  whose  enthusiasm  outruns  their  judgment  and  who  over- 
estimate their  ability  to  administer  trusts  properly  under  the  existing  con- 
ditions in  China. 

In  its  effort  to  serve  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Chinese,  the  Church  in 
America  has  spent  considerable  amounts  of  money  for  the  purchase  of  land 
and  the  erection  of  churches,  schools,  hospitals  and  other  buildings.  The 
Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  America  is  the  trustee  through  which  the  gifts  for  these  purchases  of  land 
and  buildings  have  been  made  and  by  which  they  are  now  held.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  Society,  as  stated  in  its  charter,  is  “the  conduct  of  missionary 
operations  in  all  lands.”  As  trustee  for  those  making  gifts  for  the  foregoing 
purpose  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  is  bound  to  do  every- 
thing in  its  power  to  insure  the  security  of  these  properties  and  their  use 
exclusively  for  the  purpose  contemplated  by  the  donors.  To  guarantee  the 
continued  security  of  this  property,  so  far  as  anything  can  be  secure  in  a 
country  where  there  is  no  responsible  government,  the  titles  must  remain 
vested  in  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionai'y  Society.  Furthermore,  the 
administration,  use  and  possession  of  such  property  must  remain  in  the  hands 
of  the  Society  and  its  authorized  representatives  in  China.  It  must  be  under- 
stood that  at  this  time  no  transfer  of  any  description  can  be  entertained. 

As  regards  the  local  ecclestiastical  concerns  of  each  diocese  of  the  Chung 
Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  and  of  the  work  supported  by  the  gifts  of  the  people 
in  each  diocese  thereof,  authority  will  naturally  be  exercised  in  the  manner 
provided  for  in  the  constitution  and  canons  of  each  diocese. 

As  regards  work  supported  by  gifts  from  the  United  States,  made  in 
accordance  with  the  purpose  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
as  set  forth  above,  responsibility  for  proper  administration  must  remain  in 
the  hands  of  the  Bishops  of  such  dioceses  and  their  advisors,  as  provided  for 
in  the  canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  regard- 
ing the  administration  of  missionary  districts,  and  in  consultation  with  the 
Department  of  Missions  in  the  United  States. 

The  selection  and  appointment  of  missionaries  and  assignment  to  their 
tasks,  will  naturally  continue  as  the  joint  responsibility  of  the  Department  of 
Missions  and  the  Bishop  of  each  diocese.  It  is  assumed,  of  course,  that  the 
Bishops  will  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  confer  with  their  advisors,  both 
Chinese  and  American,  with  regard  to  the  most  effective  use  of  the  missionary 
staff,  both  Chinese  and  foreign.  Responsibility  for  decision,  must  inevitably 
remain  with  the  Bishop. 

As  the  number  of  trained  and  qualified  Chinese  workers  increases  the 
number  of  the  American  members  on  the  staff  will  naturally  decrease.  Funds 
thus  released  can  then  be  used  by  the  Church  in  America  for  its  mission  work 
elsewhere. 


16 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


At  present,  very  few  educational  and  medical  leaders  are  qualified  to 
assume  entire  responsibility  in  institutions.  Naturally  the  missionaries  are 
anxious  to  advance  the  Chinese  to  places  of  trust  as  fast  as  competent  men 
are  found.  This  indeed,  has  already  been  done. 

In  the  matter  of  parochial  authority  the  avenue  for  Chinese  control  is 
open  and  such  authority  is  being  exercised  now  under  the  canonical  direction 
of  the  Bishop.  The  next  step  in  the  development  of  responsibility  would  be 
the  election  of  native  priests  to  the  episcopate. 

There  are  two  plans  for  native  bishoprics  in  operation  in  the  mission 
field.  The  Japan  method,  illustrated  by  the  Dioceses  of  Tokyo  and  Osaka, 
has  been  to  create  new  jurisdictions,  largely  supported  by  native  money  and 
to  place  their  supervision  in  the  hands  of  native  Bishops  wholly  supported 
by  their  own  people.  The  adoption  of  such  a plan  in  China,  apart  from 
other  considerations,  must  await  the  further  development  of  self-support. 

The  method  hitherto  followed  in  China,  as  in  the  case  of  the  English 
Dioceses  of  Chekiang  and  Fukien,  has  been  to  elect  Chinese  assistant  bishops. 
The  chief  obstacle  to  the  choice  of  a Chinese  for  the  office  is  the  discovery 
of  candidates  able  to  command  the  allegiance  of  the  native  Christians.  Family 
relationships  play  a part  in  Chinese  life  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the 
foreigner.  Both  Bishop  Sing,  of  Chekiang,  and  Bishop  Ding,  of  Fukien,  are 
fortunate  in  their  families,  but  any  Chinese  elected  to  the  episcopate  is  sure 
to  have  a difficult  time  and  needs  the  support  of  foreign  authority.  Never- 
theless, the  development  of  a Chinese  episcopate  must  be  kept  as  a goal  before 
us.  It  must  be  remembered  that  as  the  foreign  missionary’s  advice  and 
initiative  will  be  needed  for  a long  time  to  come,  so  it  will  be  long  before 
foreign  Bishops  can  be  altogether  withdrawn. 

The  transfer  from  foreigner  to  Chinese,  seemed  to  the  Commission  to  be 
progressing  normally.  The  question  is  not  as  acute  in  the  Sheng  Kung  Hui 
as  in  other  Chinese  churches.  The  reason  is  found  in  the  nature  of  the 
Church  itself.  There  is  no  sharp  distinction  made  between  Church  and  Mis- 
sion as  there  is  in  other  religious  bodies.  Clergy,  whether  Chinese  or  foreign, 
whether  supported  by  Chinese  funds  or  funds  from  abroad,  are  clergy  of  tbe 
Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  and  as  such,  equal  members  of  the  diocesan 
synods  and  subject  to  tbe  same  canonical  provisions.  The  relationship  be- 
tween the  Chinese  Church  and  the  foreign  churches  which  subsidize  it,  like 
the  relation  between  the  clergy  and  the  congregations  within  the  diocese,  is 
cemented  and  interpreted  by  the  office  of  the  Bishop,  who  is,  as  he  has  always 
been,  historically,  the  center  both  of  administration  and  spiritual  unity. 


ACTION  ON  EVANGELISTIC  WORK 


The  following  action  has  been  taken  upon  the  section  of  the  Report 
dealing  with  Evangelistic  Work: 

(1)  That  the  Department  of  Missions  requests  the  Bishops  in  China  to 
give  further  consideration  to  a plan  for  concentrating  all  theological  educa- 
tion in  the  Central  Theological  School,  Nanking,  with  instruction  in  Chinese 
only  or  in  both  Chinese  and  English  as  may  seem  best  and  to  advise  the  De- 
partment of  Missions  how  such  a plan  can  be  put  into  operation. 

(2)  That  in  view  of  the  natural  desire  of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung 
Hui  to  care  for  its  own  ecclesiastical  affairs,  the  Department  of  Missions  calls 
the  attention  of  the  Bishops  and  the  Standing  Committees  of  the  Dioceses 
of  Shanghai,  Hankow  and  Anking  to  the  fact  that  the  Church  in  the  United 
States  is  not  to  be  expected  to  provide  automatically  for  the  support  of  any 
clergymen  in  addition  to  those  already  provided  for  in  the  appropriation  sched- 
ules, except  those  to  be  ordained  after  graduation  at  the  close  of  the  academic 
years,  1927-1928  and  1928-1929. 

The  Department  of  Missions  recognizes  responsibility  for  providing 
support  during  study  for  the  twenty-three  candidates  from  the  Dioceses  of 
Shanghai,  Anking  and  Hankow  now  enrolled  in  the  combined  theological 
schools  conducted  at  St.  John’s  University,  and  whose  preparation  for  the 
ministry  will  be  completed  not  later  than  the  close  of  the  academic  year  of 
1928-1929. 

(3)  That  the  Department  of  Missions  informs  the  Bishops  in  China  of 
its  desire  to  confer  with  them  in  reference  to  plans  looking  to  the  greater  self- 
support  of  the  Chinese  clergy  by  the  Chinese  Church. 

(4)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  requested  to  exercise  special  care  in 
selecting  Chinese  for  post-graduate  study  in  the  United  States  and  to  confer 
with  the  Department  of  Missions,  before  making  arrangements  for  sucb  study, 
in  all  cases  where  it  is  planned  to  use  any  appropriated  funds  to  aid  in  meet- 
ing the  cost  of  travel,  tuition  fees,  support  for  the  student,  or  support  of  his 
family  in  China. 

(5)  That  the  Department  of  Missions  inform  the  Bishops  in  China  that 
it  is  not  prepared  at  this  time  to  approve  proposals  for  an  increase  in  the 
salaries  of  Chinese  clergy  supported  in  whole  or  in  part  by  aid  from  the 
Church  in  the  United  States. 

(6)  That  since  the  present  need  of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui 
seems  to  be  primarily  for  clergy  prepared  to  exercise  effectively  the  pastoral 
office,  the  Department  of  Missions  is  not  prepared  at  this  time  to  approve 
proposals  for  the  setting  apart  of  additional  clergy  for  research  and  other 
similar  literary  work. 

(7)  That  the  Department  of  Missions  approves  the  new  scale  of  salaries 
for  catechists,  biblewomen  and  teachers  as  shown  on  page  13  of  this  Report 
on  the  condition  that : 


17 


18 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


(a)  Payments  under  the  new  scale  can  be  made  without 
increasing  the  total  amount  now  appropriated  in  the  1928 
schedule  for  the  salaries  of  catechists,  biblewomen  and  teachers. 

(b)  The  emergency  allowance  for  children  be  not  continued. 

(c)  The  foregoing  scale  to  be  effective  from  July  1,  1928. 

(8)  That  the  Department  approves  the  suggestions  made  in  the  letter 
of  the  Commission  dated  December  8,  1927,  to  the  Bishops  in  China  con- 
cerning gradual  reductions  in  appropriations,  the  immediate  assumption  by 
congregations  of  the  expense  for  sextons,  and  the  creation  of  parochial  endow- 
ments, and  requests  the  Bishops  to  inform  the  Department  of  Missions,  as 
soon  as  possible,  of  steps  taken  to  carry  out  these  suggestions,  with  the  under- 
standing that  they  apply  to  existing  work  only. 

(9)  That  since  it  is  impossible  for  the  Church  in  China  to  fulfill  its 
function  as  a national  Church  until  it  is  truly  self-supporting,  the  Depart- 
ment of  Missions  assures  the  Bishops  in  China  of  its  readiness  to  co-operate 
in  plans  for  enabling  the  Church  to  become  self-supporting  and  suggests  spe- 
cifically that  whenever  Chinese  clergy  come  to  the  United  States  for  study 
and  whenever  American  clergy  return  on  furlough,  the  Bishops  instruct  them 
to  confer  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Department  of  Missions  about  plans  for 
learning  the  methods  used  by  congregations  in  America  for  educating  their 
people  in  the  principles  of  stewardship. 

(10)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  informed  that  until  further  action 
is  taken,  all  titles  to  property  purchased  with  funds  given  by  the  Church  in 
the  United  States,  are  to  remain  vested  in  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 

(11)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  informed  that  appropriations  not 
expended  because  of  reduction  in  the  number  of  Americans  in  the  several 
dioceses  in  China,  will  not  be  available  for  other  purposes  in  China,  unless 
specifically  re-appropriated  therefor. 

(12)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  informed  that  responsibility  for  the 
administration  of  work,  supported  by  gifts  from  the  Church  in  the  United 
States  in  accordance  with  the  purposes  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  must  remain  as  one  of  the  duties  of  the  Bishop  of  each 
diocese  and  his  Council  of  Advice,  as  provided  for  in  the  canons  of  the  Church 
in  the  United  States. 

(13)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  informed  that  the  selection  and 
appointment  of  missionaries  and  their  assignment  to  their  tasks  will  neces- 
sarily continue  as  the  joint  responsibility  of  the  Department  of  Missions  and 
the  Bishop  of  each  diocese. 

(14)  That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  reminded  of  the  action  of  the  De- 
partment of  Missions  at  its  meeting  February  8,  1927,  providing  that  under 
present  conditions,  no  buildings  are  to  be  erected  with  funds  from  the  United 
States,  without  first  securing  the  approval  of  the  Department. 


;i.  EDUCATIONAL  WORK 


The  future  of  Christian  education  is  the  most  important  question  facing 
Christian  missions  in  China  today.  With  few  exceptions  the  com- 
munions that  have  worked  in  China  have  invested  large  sums  of  money  in 
property  and  maintenance  and  have  enlisted  in  the  work  some  of  the  ablest 
men  and  women  among  those  who  have  dedicated  their  lives  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  the  Gospel  to  China. 

In  the  early  days  of  missionary  effort,  missionaries  were  quick  to  see 
China’s  deep  need  of  an  education  that  would  develop  character  and  equip 
the  people  for  useful  living.  In  those  days,  the  old  system  of  literary  examina- 
tion was  still  in  vogue.  The  one  thing  that  could  be  said  in  its  favor  was 
that  it  was  democratic.  Any  youth,  however  humble,  however  obscure  the 
village  in  which  he  lived,  might  aspire  to  public  office  provided  he  could  study 
under  some  old  style  school  master  and  pass  the  required  examinations. 

Eor  two  generations  missionaries  went  quietly  about  their  work  of  edu- 
cation in  the  modern  sense.  Schools  begun  with  the  simplest  equipment,  with 
an  enrollment  of  only  a few  students,  most  of  whom  had  to  be  persuaded  to 
accept  the  new  education  by  the  offer  of  free  tuition  and  free  living,  gradually 
grew  into  institutions,  the  like  of  which  China  had  never  dreamed  of  and 
which  could  be  compared  not  unfavorably  with  schools  and  institutions  of 
higher  learning  in  Europe  and  America. 

In  1905,  the  then  Dowager  Empress  issued  an  edict  abolishing  the  literary 
examinations  and  providing  for  a system  of  government  education.  It  was 
comparatively  easy  to  prepare  a paper  scheme.  The  difficulty  came  when  the 
government  found  that  the  old  system  had  prepared  few  of  China’s  scholars 
to  be  suitable  teachers  for  the  new  day.  Here  at  once  the  service  to  China 
of  mission  schools  became  apparent,  for  the  effective  teachers  were  largely 
drawn  from  the  ranks  of  the  graduates  and  former  students  of  mission  schools 
and  colleges.  The  missionaries  considered  it  an  honor  to  help  prepare  teachers 
for  the  millions  of  untaught  Chinese  youth.  They  adapted  their  educational 
systems,  within  limits,  to  the  requirements  of  the  new  opportunities,  especially 
strengthening  the  Chinese  departments  of  their  leading  institutions.  They 
prepared  and  encouraged  young  men  to  go  to  the  United  States  and  Europe 
for  study  under  the  terms  of  the  agreement  with  regard  to  the  remission  of  a 
portion  of  the  Boxer  Indemnity  Eund  made  by  the  governments  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  As  a result  of  these  arrangements  some  thousands 
of  Chinese  young  men  and  women,  whose  preliminary  training  has  been  re- 
ceived in  the  mission  and  government  schools,  have  had  the  opportunity  for 
post-graduate  study  abroad.  Many  of  these  young  people  have  greatly  profited 
by  this  experience.  Some  of  them  as  well  as  other  graduates  of  mission  schools 
who  have  had  no  opportunity  for  foreign  study  have  taken  a leading  place  in 
China’s  life.  It  is  amazing  to  scan  the  list  of  graduates  of  St.  John’s  Univer- 
sity, and  to  a lesser  degree  of  Boone  University,  and  note  the  names  of  those 
who  in  the  past  twenty  years,  have  filled  important  positions  in  the  public  life 
of  China. 

Moreover  the  educational  institutions  have  prepared  clergy  and  other 
workers  for  the  Church  in  China,  as  well  as  business  men  capable  of  gradually 

19 


20 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


accepting  responsibility  for  the  management  of  the  temporal  affairs  of  their 
several  congregations,  and  women,  who  in  addition  to  serving  on  the  vestries, 
have  undertaken  the  many  activities  that  have  always  expressed  the  devotion 
and  energy  of  the  women  of  the  Christian  Church. 

During  the  past  five  years  increasing  difficulties  have  gathered  about 
the  government  system  of  education.  Civil  strife  has  produced  uncertainty 
and  unrest.  Provincial  governments  and  military  leaders  have  diverted  to 
their  own  use  and  purposes  and  sometimes  to  their  own  personal  profit, 
revenues  intended  for  the  education  of  Chinese  youth.  Teachers  have  been 
left  for  long  periods  without  support.  Buildings  and  equipment  have  dete- 
riorated. As  a result  of  all  this,  government  schools  in  great  numbers 
have  been  closed  for  lack  of  funds  to  maintain  them  and  those  who  taught  in 
them.  , I ' i ? ' * ■ I |[ 

On  the  other  hand,  the  government  saw  the  mission  schools  flourish  as 
never  before  with  larger  huildings,  better  equipment,  better  trained  teachers 
and  steadily  increasing  numbers  of  students.  Chinese  parents  have  noted  the 
difference  between  the  education,  and  especially  the  moral  discipline,  imparted 
by  the  mission  schools  on  the  one  hand  and  the  government  schools  on  the  other, 
with  the  result  that  thousands  of  them  have  gladly  paid  the  higher  fees  of 
the  mission  schools,  in  order  that  their  children  might  have  the  advantage  of 
education  under  Christian  auspices.  This  contrast  has  inevitably  been  noticed 
by  the  government  authorities.  Not  unnaturally  their  pride  has  been  hurt. 
That,  and  a feeling  of  resentment,  have  entered  into  their  attitude  toward 
mission  schools. 

When,  therefore,  the  principle  of  nationalism,  enunciated  by  Dr.  Sun 
Yat  Sen  in  his  hook  on  the  “Three  People’s  Principles”  began  to  make  its 
appeal  to  a section,  even  though  a relatively  small  section,  of  China’s  popula- 
tion, it  was  inevitable  that  the  idea  advocated  by  some  Chinese  educators  dur- 
ing the  past  few  years,  of  incorporating  mission  schools  into  the  government 
system,  should  be  taken  up  and  pressed. 

Educational  Regulations 

In  November,  1925,  the  Peking  government  issued  six  regulations  stat- 
ing the  terms  under  which  an  institution  established  by  funds  contributed  by 
foreigners  might  apply  for  “recognition.”  This  was  before  what  is  generally 
described  as  the  “Nationalist  Movement,”  having  headquarters  in  Canton, 
had  taken  any  definite  steps.  The  Peking  government  set  forth  certain  con- 
ditions under  which  schools  “will  be  allowed  to  apply  for  recognition.”  (See 
page  46. 

In  November,  1926,  the  Canton  government  issued  a series  of  regula- 
tions, much  more  detailed  and  difficult  to  comply  with  than  those  issued  from 
Peking.  (See  page  47.) 

The  Canton  government  stated  in  its  “Regulations  for  Private  Schools,” 
issued  in  Canton  in  November,  1926: 

"Article  2 — A private  school  must  be  under  the  supervision  and 
direction  of  the  educational  authority  of  the  government.” 

Later  in  the  regulations  provision  is  made  for  the  registration  of  all 
schools.  Furthermore,  the  following  requirements  were  promulgated : 


Educational  IFork 


21 


“In  all  provinces  under  the  control  of  the  Nationalist  government 
certain  requirements  are  made  of  every  school. 

“(1)  The  principles  and  the  teachings  of  the  party,  especially  as 
promulgated  in  the  writings  of  Dr.  Sun  Yat  Sen,  and  in  particular  in 
the  ‘San  Min  Chu  I’  are  to  be  taught  regularly. 

“(2)  At  the  beginning  of  the  school  session  on  every  Monday 
morning,  students  are  to  assemble  before  the  portrait  of  l5r.  Sun  Yat 
Sen  to  listen  to  the  reading  of  his  will  and  to  remain  in  silent  medita- 
tion for  at  least  three  minutes.” 

The  will  of  Dr.  Sun  Yat  Sdn  is  as  follows: 

“For  forty  years  I have  devoted  my  life  to  the  cause  of  the  Peo- 
ple’s Revolution  with  the  object  of  securing  freedom  and  equality 
for  China.  My  experience,  accumulated  in  these  forty  years,  has  fully 
convinced  me  that  to  attain  our  object  we  must  arouse  the  people  and 
fight  side  by  side  with  such  races  of  the  world  as  have  accorded  us 
equal  treatment.  As  the  revolution  has  not  yet  come  to  complete  success 
my  compatriots  must  continue  to  strive  according  to  the  teachings  in 
my  books,  namely:  ‘The  Plans  for  National  Reconstruction.’  ‘The  Basic 
Principles  of  National  Reconstruction,’  and  ‘The  Three  Principles  of 
the  People,’  and  in  my  proclamation  made  during  the  first  national 
representative  convention,  until  our  cherished  aims  have  been  completely 
achieved.  The  recently  proposed  People’s  Assembly  and  the  abrogation 
of  unequal  treaties,  especially,  should  be  pressed  to  their  realization 
at  the  earliest  possible  date.  I'his  is  my  bequest  to  you.” 

Very  few  Christian  institutions  have  registered  under  any  of  the  numerous 
regulations.  Inquiry  from  the  China  Christian  Educational  Association  failed 
to  secure  exact  figures. 

Early  in  1927  many  mission  schools  maintained  by  a number  of  different 
communions  in  various  parts  of  China  suspended  operation.  This  was  due 
to  internal  disorders  created  by  a small  proportion  of  the  students  who  gen- 
erally succeeded  in  terrorizing  the  whole  student  body.  This  should  be  clearly 
understood,  lest  it  be  thought  that  the  schools  have  been  closed  as  a protest 
against  government  regulations.  Many  schools  are  still  closed  because  there 
is  no  assurance  that  if  reopened  there  would  not  be  a repetition  of  disorders. 
Parents,  alumni  and  students  are  asking  for  the  reopening  of  our  mission 
schools.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  plans  now  maturing  for  reopening 
in  September,  1928,  can,  in  most  cases,  be  carried  out. 

Registration,  so  far  as  it  applies  to  our  own  schools,  has  no  bearing  upon 
our  educational  standards.  For  several  years  the  curricula  of  our  schools 
have  been  based  upon  government  requirements.  The  quality  of  our  instruc- 
tion has,  on  the  whole,  been  higher  than  that  of  government  schools  of  similar 
grade.  The  single  exception  to  this  statement  is  in  the  case  of  instruction  in 
Chinese  subjects.  The  demand  on  the  part  of  the  students  for  instruction  in 
English  has,  as  a rule,  outrun  the  demand  for  instruction  in  Chinese. 

Provincial  and  Local  Regulations 

Since  the  promulgation  of  the  original  regulations  by  the  Northern  and 
Southern  educational  authorities,  both  have  issued  additional  regulations 
usually  in  the  direction  of  more  detailed  official  control.  (See  pages  46-48.) 
Moreover,  provincial  educational  authorities,  and  sometimes  even  local  educa- 
tional authorities,  have  issued  regulations  conflicting  frequently  in  important 
details  with  both  the  Peking  and  Canton  regulations.  The  following  examples 
are  given : 


22 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


Province  of  Hupeh: 

The  Hupeh  Political  Council  issued  regulations  containing  among  other 
provisions  the  following,  not  included  in  the  regulations  of  the  Nationalist 
government,  of  which  Hupeh*  is  a part: 

“A  minimum  capital  fund  shall  be  deposited  in  a bank  designated 
by  the  educational  department  as  follows: 

Universities,  colleges  and  professional  schools.  .$20,000.00 


Middle  Schools 3,000.00 

Primary  Schools 500.00 


“Schools  already  registered  shall  meet  the  requirements  within  a 
year. 

“Fees  for  tuition  charged  must  first  be  approved  by  the  Political 
Council  of  Hupeh. 

“In  addition,  private  educational  institutions  must  obey  all  rules 
and  regulations,  promulgated  by  the  Nationalist  government  or  by  the 
provincial  government  of  Hupeh.” 

Since  the  regulations  from  which  the  foregoing  extracts  are  taken  were 
issued,  additional  regulations  have  been  promulgated  in  Hupeh  under  date  of 
December  3,  1927.  Some  of  the  more  important  are  as  follows: 

“2.  All  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or  organizations 
in  the  Province  of  Hupeh  must  conform  to  the  Hupeh  regulations  for 
the  control  of  private  schools.  If  they  fail  to  do  so  they  will  be  ordered 
to  close. 

“3.  All  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or  organizations  in 
the  Province  of  Hupeh  must  have  the  same  curriculum  and  methods  of 
discipline  as  Chinese  government  schools  of  the  same  grade.  It  is  not 
permitted  to  foist  in  the  teaching  of  the  Jesus-Bible,  prayers  or  sub- 
jects containing  religious  ideas. 

“5.  In  any  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or  organizations 
in  the  Province  of  Hupeh,  superintendents,  principals,  etc.,  may  not 
be  appointed  in  addition  to  the  headmaster. 

“6.  All  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or  organizations  in 
the  Province  of  Hupeh  should  promote  the  following  items: 

(a)  Individual  research  work  in  the  sciences  and  arts. 

(b)  Students  self-governing  associations. 

(c)  Student  participation  in  public  parades. 

“7.  In  all  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or  organizations 
in  the  Province  of  Hupeh  an  officer  in  charge  of  the  school  discipline 
should  be  appointed  by  the  Hupeh  Commissioner  of  Education. 

“8.  In  the  case  of  all  schools  opened  by  foreign  individuals  or 
organizations  in  the  Province  of  Hupeh  the  provincial  commissioner  (of 
education)  has  the  right  to  send  an  officer  to  inspect  and  direct  the 
school  affairs  at  any  time. 

“9.  These  regulations  shall  go  into  effect  from  the  date  of  their 
promulgation.  Should  there  be  any  points  incomplete  they  are  subject 
to  alteration  at  any  time.” 

Province  of  Anwliei: 

The  Board  of  Education  of  the  Province  of  Anwheif  has  issued  regula- 
tions for  mission  schools.  Among  them  is  the  following: 

“The  yearly  income  must  exceed  $5,000.00  excluding  tuition.” 


*Note:  The  Diocese  of  Hankow  is  in  the  Province  of  Hupeh. 
^Note:  The  Diocese  of  Anking  includes  the  Province  of  Anwhei. 


Educational  IV ork 


23 


Province  of  Kiangsu: 

This  province*  has  put  out  regulations  among  which  are  the  following: 

“Besides  follo'wing  the  regulations  issued  by  the  Central  Educational 
Commission  a school  shall  also  adhere  to  the  following  regulations: 

“(a)  Minimum  expenditures:  The  total  expenses  of  a junior 
middle  school  shall  be  at  least  $2,000.00  per  year  per  grade;  (that  is 
$6,000.00  per  school  per  year)  /and  the  total  expenses  of  a senior  middle 
school  shall  be  at  least  $3,000.00  per  year  per  grade;  (that  is  a total  of 
$9,000.00  per  school  per  annum).  This  would  make  a total  of  $15,000.00 
per  annum  for  a full  six  year  middle  school. 

“(b)  Tuition  fees  of  a private  school  may  not  be  more  than  those 
of  a middle  school  of  the  Fourth  Chung  San  University.  Other  fees 
shall  not  be  more  than  those  of  a middle  school  of  the  University.” 

On  November  19,  1927,  the  Ministry  of  Education  of  the  Peking  gov- 
ernment issued  additional  regulations.  Among  them  are  the  following: 

“The  president  or  principal  of  such  an  institution  shall  be  a 
Chinese.  If  the  president  or  principal  of  the  institution  has  heretofore 
been  a foreigner  he  shall  be  replaced  with  a Chinese  who  shall  represent 
the  institution  in  applying  for  recognition. 

“The  institution  shall  not  practise  any  religious  rites  or  ceremonies 
and  shall  not  have  as  its  purpose  the  propagation  of  religion.”  (See 
page  46.) 

On  December  20,  1927,  and  February  6,  1928,  “The  National  Uni- 
versity, Nanking”  acting  as  the  educational  authority  of  “The  Nationalist 
government”  issued  regulations,  presumably  superseding  those  issued  from 
Canton  in  November,  1926.  The  new  regulations  do  not  differ  materially 
from  those  of  1926.  (See  page  48.) 

The  foregoing  examples  of  regulations  issued  by  educational  authorities 
in  various  parts  of  China  indicate  a plan  to  bring  about  a degree  of  conformity 
that  is  likely  to  be  paralyzing  and  to  concentrate  control  of  all  education  in 
official  hands.  This  tendency  applies  not  only  to  government  schools  but,  as 
is  indicated  in  the  regulations,  to  private  schools. 

No  private  school  can  be  established  without  permission. 

It  can  be  conducted  only  under  official  direction. 

It  is  granted  no  freedom  in  determining  the  character  of  its 
curriculum. 

Its  tuition  fees  and  even  its  vacation  periods  are  subject  to 
official  determination. 

The  liberty  of  a private  school  in  the  matter  of  religious  in- 
struction and  w'orship  is  limited,  but  on  the  other  hand  it  is 
required  to  accept  a certain  ceremony  prescribed  by  the  educa- 
tional authorities  and  to  teach  certain  political  and  economic 
theories. 

It  cannot  cease  its  activities  without  official  permission,  and 
on  the  other  hand  may  be  discontinued  whenever  the  educa- 
tional authorities  desire  to  do  so. 

A Chinese  Official  View  of  Christian  Education 

Dr.  Sidney  Wei,  writing  as  a member  of  the  Central  Educational  Com- 
mittee of  the  Southern  (Canton  or  Nanking)  government,  has  stated: 

*Note:  The  Diocese  of  Shanghai  is  in  the  Province  of  Kiangsu. 


24 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


“In  order  to  regain  the  control  of  education,  we  must  immediately 
draw  up  enactments  and  rigorously  put  into  execution  regulations  for 
the  repression  of  schools  managed  by  foreigners.  We  must  positively 
get  hack  the  schools  managed  by  the  foreigners  and  manage  them 
ourselves. 

“The  restraint  of  education  by  religion  is  an  evil  inheritance  from 
the  middle  ages.  The  former  education  of  our  country  was  bound  by 
the  traditional  ideas  of  Confucianism — like  being  bound  by  the  authority 
of  religion.  Now  our  country’s  education,  although  it  cannot  free  itself 
from  being  bound  with  Confucian  ideas  entirely,  yet  gradually  it  can  be 
emancipated.  It  is  a pity  that  there  is  a class  of  missionaries  and 
Christians  which  advocates  what  is  known  as  Christian  education, 
evidencing  that  they  regard  education  as  an  auxiliary  of  religion  and- 
overthrowing  the  dignity  of  education.  . . . Education  should  take 
natural  science  and  social  science  as  its  foundation,  and  the  policy  of 
the  party  should  be  the  basic  policy  of  education.  We  should  repress 
all  Church  schools  and  not  allow  religious  propaganda,  religious 
instruction  and  religious  worship  in  the  schools.” 

In  practically  every  civilized  country  the  private  school  has  a recognized 
standing  and  is  accorded  full  rights  and  privileges,  so  long  as  a suitable  stand- 
ard of  instruction  is  maintained  and  its  teaching  contains  nothing  prejudicial 
to  public  welfare.  It  is  conceivable  that  private  schools  may  be  related  to  a 
system  of  public  instruction.  Every  mission  school  in  China  is  ready  to  supply 
full  information  as  to  the  character  of  its  work  to  properly  constituted  educa- 
tional authorities. 

Unfortunately,  those  now  in  authority  in  educational  circles  in  China 
seem  inclined  to  consider  that  private  schools  have  no  rights  and  to  overlook 
the  fact  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Paul  Monroe  in  1925  that  at  present — 

“the  greatest  stimulus  to  government  education  in  China  is  the  mission 
education  from  abroad.  . . . The  time  will  come  when  it  will  be  recog- 
nized that  this  has  been  the  fundamental  factor  that  has  set  govern- 
ment education  on  its  feet.  It  would  be  disastrous  to  government 
education  to  remove  this  stimulus.  . . . Those  who,  at  the  present  time, 
are  agitating  for  the  elimination  of  Christian  schools  are  unknowingly 
working  for  the  curtailment  and  limitation  of  the  very  thing  they 
desire,  that  is  the  development  of  government  education.  Any  repres- 
sive, undemocratic,  illiberal  action  curtailing  the  legitimate  function  of 
these  schools  is  apt  to  return  as  a boomerang  upon  government  schools 
by  an  illiberal  partisan  government  of  the  future.  The  most  that  should 
be  asked  is  the  adoption  of  a minimum  governmental  curriculum,  the 
attainment  of  a government  standard  of  efficiency  in  carrying  out  the 
program  and  the  right  of  visitation  to  see  that  such  standards  are 
obtained.  Beyond  this  there  should  be  freedom.  Such  freedom  will 
rebound  to  the  benefit  of  the  government  schools  as  well  as  to  private 
enterprise.” 

Christi.an  Education  in  China  and  Japan 

By  some  it  is  supposed  that  the  situation  with  regard  to  Christian  educa- 
tion in  China  today  is  similar  to  that  obtaining  in  Japan.  The  following 
facts  indicate  that  this  is  not  the  case. 

When  the  Imperial  Rescript  on  education,  known  as  order  No.  12,  was 
issued  in  Japan  in  1899,  the  Japanese  government  gave  private  schools  the 
choice  of  accepting  or  not  accepting  a license  from  the  Department  of  Educa- 
tion. The  holding  of  a license  by  a school  gave  to  the  students  certain  advan- 
tages over  the  students  of  an  unlicensed  school.  These  advantages  were 
chiefly : 


Educational  Work 


25 


( 1 ) Freedom  from  military  service  until  after  the  age  of  26, 
i.  e.,  until  after  the  completion  of  a university  course. 

(2)  Better  opportunity  for  securing  admission  to  higher 
schools. 

The  Chinese  educational  regulations  require  all  schools  to  register. 

In  Japan  unlicensed  schools  retained  the  right  to  require  attendance  at 
religious  services  and  to  include  Christian  instruction  as  a part  of  the  cur- 
riculum. Even  in  the  case  of"  schools  holding  the  government  license  the 
provision  that  religious  instruction  should  not  be  required  applied  to  the  class- 
rooms only.  It  was  still  possible  to  make  religious  instruction  a required 
subject  for  all  dormitory  students  before  the  hours  of  8 :00  a.  m.  and  after 
the  hour  of  2 :00  p.  m. 

Since  1899  modifications  have  been  made  in  the  regulations  so  that  pri- 
vate schools  not  holding  licenses  from  the  Department  of  Education,  for  all 
practical  purposes,  suffer  no  disability  and  retain  the  right  to  give  required 
religious  instruction. 

The  Japanese  Department  of  Education  never  attempted  to  make  private 
schools  the  means  whereby  certain  political  propaganda  should  be  imparted 
to  the  students. 

The  Chinese  authorities  require  the  teaching  of  the  book  known  as  the 
“Three  Principles  of  the  People.” 

The  Japanese  regulations  did  not  require  the  school  to  have  a repre- 
sentative of  the  political  party  in  power  assigned  to  the  school  by  the  party 
and  paid  by  the  school.  Some  of  the  regulations  issued  in  China  require  this 
arrangement. 

The  Japanese  regulations  did  not  require  the  transfer  of  the  school  to 
Japanese  ownership  or  control.  Some  of  the  Chinese  regulations  require  the 
transfer  of  property  and  control  to  Chinese  hands. 

The  Japanese  government  had  a permanent  policy  and  a well  organized 
and  efficiently  conducted  Department  of  Education.  It  was  not  antagonistic 
to  Christianity. 

The  educational  policy  in  China,  as  indicated  by  the  varying  regulations 
put  out  during  the  past  two  and  a half  years,  is  constantly  changing.  There 
is  no  stability  either  in  a central  government  or  in  any  educational  policy.  In 
some  parts  of  China  the  educational  authorities  are  distinctly  antagonistic  to 
Christianity. 

Bishop  Tucker  has  pointed  out  that  in  Japan  “the  authorities  recognized 
that  our  schools  were  established  in  order  to  promote  our  Christian  work 
and  they  were  willing  that  they  should  be  so  conducted  so  long  as  we  did  not 
violate  the  actual  provisions  of  the  law.  They  showed  great  consideration 
and  in  some  cases  suggested  means  by  which  we  could  effect  our  Christian 
purposes  and  still  keep  strictly  within  the  provisions  of  the  law.” 

In  China  the  central  and  local  authorities  have  recognized  that  mission 
schools  have  been  organized  in  order  to  promote  Christian  work.  Many  of 
them  have  unfortunately  shown  clearly  their  unwillingness  that  the  schools 
should  be  conducted  for  this  purpose. 

Preliminary  Conference  with  the  Bishops 

On  November  5th,  the  Commission  held  a preliminary  conference  in 
Shanghai  with  Bishop  Graves  of  Shanghai,  Bishop  Huntington  of  Anking 


26 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


and  Bishop  Roots  of  Hankow.  Much  of  the  time  of  the  conference  was  given 
to  school  questions  and  particularly  to  the  matter  of  registration.  In  general 
the  Bishops  were  agreed  that  nothing  should  be  done  to  impair  the  Christian 
character  of  our  schools.  They  were  not  so  unanimous  as  to  whether  or  not 
registration  would  do  so. 

The  Bishop  of  Anking  stated  that  he  would  not  accept  what  is  known  as 
the  “proctor  system”  under  which  the  educational  authorities  claim  the  right 
to  appoint  a member  of  the  political  party  in  power  as  a proctor  of  a private 
school,  and  that  he  would  not  continue  a school  where  Christian  teaching 
is  forbidden. 

The  Bishops  reported  that  in  a number  of  instances  primary  schools  are 
being  carried  on  chiefly  by  Chinese  and  often  without  financial  aid  from  for- 
eign sources. 

All  middle  schools  and  the  academic  departments  of  St.  John’s  Univer- 
sity and  Boone  University  are  closed.  Theological  education  is  being  carried 
on  at  St.  John’s  University.  All  the  students  from  the  Central  Theological 
School,  at  Nanking  (the  buildings  of  which  are  occupied  by  soldiers),  the 
students  of  the  theological  school  of  Boone  University  as  well  as  those  of  St. 
John’s  University  are  receiving  regular  instruction. 

Some  two  hundred  students  of  St.  John’s  University  and  Middle  School 
are  now  enrolled  in  a temporary  school,  known  as  the  “Tutorial  Association.” 
It  occupies  rented  buildings  in  the  International  Settlement  and  is  conducted 
under  the  auspices  of  St.  John’s  University  alumni.  The  university  assumes 
no  responsibility  for  the  “Tutorial  Association”  but  is  co-operating  with  it  by 
arranging  for  members  of  the  university  faculty  still  in  China  to  give  regular 
instruction  in  the  school  under  the  direction  of  the  Chinese  principal.  He  is 
one  of  the  faculty  of  St.  John’s. 

In  the  Diocese  of  Hankow,  what  is  known  as  a “Diocesan  Emergency 
School,”  with  classes  from  primary  through  the  junior  middle  school  grades, 
is  being  conducted  in  the  buildings  of  St.  Lois’  School,  Hankow,  in  special 
Administration  District  No.  1 (formerly  the  Russian  Concession).  The  Rev. 
Harvey  Huang,  who  has  general  supervision  of  the  school  and  in  whose  parish 
it  is  located,  told  the  Commission  in  November  that  the  school  had  not  been 
registered,  that  he  saw  no  reason  for  registering  at  the  present  time  and  that 
the  educational  authorities  had  not  interfered. 

The  mission  schools  have  not  been  closed  as  a protest  against  registra- 
tion, but  because  political  conditions  have  become  so  uncertain  and  because 
there  have  been  attempts  on  the  part  of  the  communist  elements  to  convert 
the  schools  into  agencies  for  communist  propaganda.  In  some  instances 
attempts  have  been  made  by  the  communist  groups  to  seize  the  school  property. 

Many  Chinese  are  asking  that  our  schools  should  be  reopened.  Numerous 
petitions  from  both  parents  and  students  have  been  received  by  Bishop  Graves 
and  Dr.  Pott,  urging  the  reopening  of  St.  John’s  University.  The  advisory 
council  of  the  alumni  association,  as  well  as  former  students  of  St.  John’s 
University,  have  also  urged  reopening  February,  1928.  In  no  instance,  how- 
ever, has  it  been  possible  for  those  advocating  this  course  to  give  assurance 
that,  if  reopened,  the  schools  would  be  permitted  to  go  on  without  interference 
by  disaffected  students  or  the  educational  authorities. 

The  Council  of  Advice  of  the  Diocese  of  Shanghai  at  Bishop  Graves’ 
request  considered  the  wisdom  of  reopening  schools  in  February  instead  of 
waiting  until  September,  1928.  After  careful  discussion  the  Council  ex- 


Educational  JF ork 


27 


pressed  its  opinion  that  it  would  be  best  to  adhere  to  the  present  policy  of 
planning  to  reopen  in  September,  1928. 

Diocesan  Conferences 

The  Commission Teld  diocesan  conferences  on  education  with  the  Chinese 
and  American  educators  in  the  Dioceses  of  Shanghai,  Anking  and  Hankow. 
In  each  case  the  conference  lasted  a full  day  or  more. 

The  conference  in  Shanghai  on  November  11th  was  open  to  American 
members  of  the  staff  of  all  three  dioceses,  who  were  then  resident  in  Shanghai. 
Chinese  and  Americans  freely  discussed  the  educational  situation.  There 
was  general  agreement: 

( 1 ) That  registration  is  impossible. 

(2)  That  it  would  be  impossible  to  maintain  the  Christian 
character  of  a registered  school. 

(3)  That  the  Chinese  recognize  that  the  excellent  work  and 
discipline  of  our  schools  is  due  to  the  fact  that  they  are  Chris- 
tian schools  and  not  merely  schools. 

(4)  That  when  the  schools  are  reopened  it  should  be  done, 
without  registration,  leaving  it  to  the  educational  authorities  to 
close  them  if  they  desired  to  do  so. 

The  conference  in  Hankow  on  November  21st  was  with  the  diocesan 
Executive  Council  of  which  no  Americans  are  members.  No  American  par- 
ticipated in  the  discussion,  with  the  exception  of  the  Bishop  Suffragan  of  the 
diocese  and  the  members  of  the  Commission.  Bishop  Roots  was  the  presiding 
officer.  The  opinion  expressed  by  the  Chinese  who  spoke,  was  unanimously 
in  favor  of  registering  the  schools  as  the  only  method  of  conducting  them  for 
the  future.  This  view  is  not  held  by  at  least  two  of  the  leading  clergymen  in 
the  diocese  who  are  conducting  large  schools  without  having  registered  them 
and  with  no  interference  from  the  authorities.  One  of  them,  who  did  not 
take  part  in  the  discussion  at  the  conference,  expressed  his  opinion  privately 
afterwards,  in  an  informal  conference  with  the  Commission,  that  he  did  not 
think  registration  at  present  was  necessary  or  wise  and  that  he  was  not  in 
favor  of  registration. 

An  informal  conference  with  twelve  American  members  of  the  Hankow 
staff  revealed  a division  of  opinion.  Of  those  taking  part  in  the  discussion, 
four  were  clearly  in  favor  of  registration,  two  were  opposed  to  registration 
and  two  expressed  themselves  as  uncertain.  One  who  took  no  part  in  the 
discussion  said  afterwards  that  he  was  opposed  to  registration. 

On  November  28th,  a conference  with  the  Chinese  and  American 
evangelistic  and  educational  workers  of  the  Diocese  of  Anking  was  held  in 
Wuhu. 

In  considering  the  school  question  it  was  evident  that  the  attitude  of 
the  Chinese  members  of  the  conference  was  somewhat  different  from  that  of 
the  Chinese  members  of  the  Shanghai  and  Hankow  conferences.  While  they 
did  not  advocate  registration  under  the  present  conditions,  they  suggested  an 
endeavor  to  establish  “a  diocesan  standard  of  registration.”  In  substance, 
this  seemed  to  mean  conferring  with  the  government  for  securing  more  satis- 
factory terms  on  the  points  that  they  felt  were  in  doubt.  These  points  were 
the  securing  of  religious  liberty  for  and  the  Christian  character  of  the  schools 
and  safeguarding  their  property  by  having  it  remain  in  the  control  of  the 


28 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
which  now  holds  title. 

Conferences  with  Representatives  of  Other  Communions 

The  Commission  also  had  conferences  with  representatives  of  other  Chris- 
tian communions.  In  Hankow  they  met  with  the  representatives  of  Swedish 
Missionary  Society,  English  Wesleyan  Mission,  Swedish-American  Mission, 
London  Missionary  Society,  and  the  China  Inland  Mission. 

None  had  registered  their  schools.  The  Swedish  societies  and  the  China 
Inland  Mission  have  definitely  decided  not  to  register.  Representatives  of 
the  Wesleyan  and  London  Missions  expressed  their  dislike  of  the  requirements. 
No  decision  had  been  reached.  They  hoped  that  when  conditions  are  more 
settled  the  regulations  might  be  modified. 

In  Shanghai,  a conference  was  held  with  the  resident  administrators  of 
the  Northern  Presbyterian  Mission,  Northern  Methodist  Mission,  Northern 
and  Southern  Baptist  Missions,  and  the  London  Missionary  Society.  All  ex- 
pressed their  apprehension  with  regard  to  the  educational  regulations.  None 
had  registered  any  of  their  schools.  Some  stated  that  they  were  “preparing  to 
register.”  They  hoped,  however,  that  before  registration  was  actually  effected, 
something  would  occur  to  make  it  unnecessary  or  impossible  to  proceed. 
The  Northern  Presbyterian  Mission  has  definitely  decided  against  registration. 
It  is  prepared  to  close  its  schools  if  operation  without  registration  becomes 
illegal. 

Later  in  Shanghai,  a conference  was  held  with  representatives  of  the 
China  Christian  Educational  Association.  All  were  strongly  in  favor  of 
registration.  This  view  seems  to  have  been  slightly  modified  by  events 
occurring  since  December  7,  1927,  when  this  conference  was  held.  The 
“Educational  Review,”  published  by  the  China  Christian  Educational  Asso- 
ciation, now  expresses  regret  at  what  it  calls  “narrow  nationalism”  as  indicated 
by  the  promulgation  of  more  drastic  regulations. 

An  illuminating  personal  conference  was  held  by  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Commission  with  a Roman  Catholic  Bishop  in  Central  China.  He 
did  not  profess  to  speak  authoritatively  for  the  Roman  Communion  in  China. 
He  did  state  that  no  schools  would  be  registered  in  his  own  diocese,  and  that 
he  was  confident  that  the  same  policy  would  be  followed  in  all  others.  He 
saw  no  possibility  of  maintaining  the  Christian  character  of  the  schools,  if 
registered  under  the  present  regulations,  and  expressed  the  conviction  that  it 
would  be  better  to  close  them  than  to  register.  The  Christian  Brothers,  a 
teaching  order  from  Ireland,  who  have  been  carrying  on  important  educa- 
tional work  in  Wuchang  and  Hanyang,  have  withdrawn  from  China  for 
the  present,  at  least.  The  Maryknoll  Sisters  of  the  “American  Catholic 
Missionary  Society”  have  temporarily  suspended  their  school  work  in  South 
China  outside  of  Hongkong.  Both  of  these  orders  are  prepared  to  conduct 
schools  only  when  there  is  freedom  to  give  required  Christian  instruction,  to 
require  attendance  upon  Christian  worship  and  when  government  regulations 
do  not  make  it  impossible  to  maintain  a high  standard  of  discipline. 

Final  Conferences  with  the  Bishops 

On  December  5th,  the  Commission  met  in  Shanghai  with  Bishop  Graves, 
Bishop  Roots,  Bishops  Huntington  and  Gilman.  The  conference  failed  to 


Educational  Work 


29 


secure  agreement  among  the  Bishops  with  regard  to  any  future  educational 
policy. 

One  of  the  Bishops  favored  registration  under  the  present  regulations. 
He  said  he  would  prefer  to  register  under  the  regulations  that  seemed  least 
favorable  to  the  continuance  of  Christian  education. 

Another  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  carry  on 
unregistered  schools,  but  favored  registration  only  on  condition  that  the  Chris- 
tian character  of  the  schools  could  be  preserved.  He  was  ready  to  support 
as  Christian  an  institution  not  aHowed  to  give  .Christian  instruction  as  a 
required  subject. 

A third  expressed  the  opinion  that  Christian  schools  could  be  conducted 
under  some  of  the  existing  regulations.  He  did  not,  however,  agree  to  the 
right  of  a political  party,  acting  through  the  educational  authorities,  to  place 
in  the  schools  a representative  to  have  charge  of  the  school  discipline  and 
see  that  the  party  principles  are  taught.  Nor  would  he  continue  schools 
in  case  Christian  teaching  was  forbidden,  either  as  a required  or  voluntary 
subject. 

Another  felt  there  were  no  existing  regulations  under  which  schools 
could  be  registered  with  the  government  and  retain  their  Christian  charac- 
ter. To  register,  in  his  judgment,  meant  the  jeopardizing  of  school  property. 

Having  failed  to  reach  an  agreement  on  the  question  of  educational 
policy  the  conference  passed  to  the  consideration  of  subjects  treated  in  another 
section  of  this  Report.  Subsequently  Bishops  Roots,  Huntington  and  Gilman 
prepared  a memorandum  on  education  and  submitted  it  to  the  Commission. 
The  letter  accompanying  the  memorandum  was  written  by  Bishop  Roots  and 
signed  by  the  three  Bishops.  (See  page  43.) 

The  Commission  considers  that  the  proposals  embodied  in  the  memoran- 
dum should  not  be  approved.  The  Commission  believes  that  the  Church 
would  make  a serious  mistake  by  acting  upon  them  and  by  accepting  certain 
explanations  contained  in  the  memorandum. 

Religious  Freedom 

Emphasis  is  being  laid  by  some  on  the  principle  of  religious  freedom  as 
applied  to  schools  in  China.  By  this  is  generally  meant  acceptance  by  the 
school  authorities  of  the  plan  of  voluntary  attendance  at  the  school  chapel 
services  and  the  making  of  Christian  instruction  elective.  The  fact  seems 
to  be  overlooked  that  ample  opportunity  is  given  for  the  exercise  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  religious  freedom  when  the  students  or  the  parents  are  making  the 
choice  of  a school.  Students  are  not  and  cannot  be  compelled  to  attend 
Christian  schools.  Mission  schools  have  well  defined  practices  known  to  all 
The  time  for  choice  is  before  and  not  after  the  student  has  enrolled. 

Without  in  any  way  surrendering  the  right  of  required  attendance 
upon  Christian  worship  as  part  of  the  school  life  and  training  it  may  be  wise 
to  try  the  experiment,  in  institutions  of  college  grade,  of  making  attendance 
upon  Christian  services  voluntary  for  non-Christian  students.  It  would  seem 
desirable  that  such  attendance  should  be  required  of  Christian  students  and 
all  members  of  the  faculty  whether  Chinese  or  American. 

In  any  institution  where  such  an  experiment  is  tried,  provision  should 
be  made  for  a coincident  period,  when  moral  and  ethical  instruction  should 
be  given  and  at  which  attendance  would  naturally  be  required  of  those  who 
do  not  attend  the  Christian  service. 


30 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


A Fundamental  Question 

Christian  instruction,  as  a voluntary  or  required  course,  raises  a more 
fundamental  question.  It  is  not  the  function  of  the  Church,  as  it  endeavors 
to  make  our  Lord  known  in  non-Christian  lands,  to  build  up  a system  of 
purely  secular  education.  It  should  not  provide  schools  that  teach  history, 
mathematics,  grammar,  literature,  science,  etc.,  as  required  subjects,  but  make 
courses  in  the  Scriptures,  as  a guide  of  life,  courses  in  Christian  ethics  and 
Christian  faith  voluntary. 

Educational  work  in  mission  lands  is  occasionally  compared  unfavorably 
with  evangelistic  work,  so-called,  on  the  ground  that  it  is  merely  educational 
and  does  not  offer  opportunity  for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  Such  a 
conception  can  be  entertained  only  by  those  unfamiliar  with  the  actual  facts 
of  mission  life  and  work.  A close  study  of  our  educational  work  in  China, 
as  it  has  been  conducted,  makes  clear  the  fact  that  the  evangelistic  oppor- 
tunities of  a mission  school  are  practically  unlimited.  It  is  essential  to  the 
future  welfare  of  Christian  growth  in  China  to  preserve  and  use  these 
opportunities. 

Mission  schools,  it  is  sometimes  said,  exist  primarily  for  the  purpose  of 
educating  the  children  of  the  Christian  community  and  the  training  of  Chris- 
tian leaders.  They  unquestionably  serve  both  of  these  purposes  and  their 
work  in  these  directions  is  indispensable.  Equally  important  is  the  work  of 
the  mission  school,  in  presenting  the  Christian  way  of  life,  so  progressively 
and  persuasively  that  each  year  a number  of  students  declare  their  purpose 
of  following  our  Lord’s  teachings  and  ask  for  baptism  and  confirmation. 

Larger  Proportion  of  Christian  Students  Desirable 

Many  of  our  educational  missionaries  in  China  feel  that  the  evangelistic 
effectiveness  of  the  schools  has  been  lessened  by  the  failure  of  the  Church  to 
provide  sufficiently  for  the  maintenance  of  the  schools  through  annual  appro- 
priations. Consequently  they  have  been  compelled,  in  order  to  maintain  the 
schools  on  a high  educational  level,  to  accept  an  unduly  large  number  of 
students  from  well-to-do  non-Christian  families,  able  to  pay  the  fees  but 
indifferent  to  the  religious  life  of  the  school.  In  some  of  the  middle  schools 
and  colleges  the  number  of  non-Christian  students  has  been  approximately 
two-thirds  of  the  student  body.  It  is  probable  that  when  the  time  comes  to 
reopen  the  schools,  the  number  of  non-Christian  students  received,  will  in 
most  cases  be  limited  so  that  in  every  school  at  least  fifty  per  cent  of  the 
student  body  will  be  Christian.  Such  a policy  will  require,  as  was  pointed 
out  by  the  Bishops  in  China,  larger  annual  appropriations  for  the  schools. 

It  is  possible  that  in  some  instances  economies  can  be  effected  by: 

( 1 ) Discontinuing  one  or  more  middle  schools  in  each 
diocese. 

(2)  Simplifying  the  standard  of  living  provided  for  the 
student. 

(3)  Arranging,  wherever  possible,  for  joint  instruction  for 
boys  and  girls,  especially  in  scientific  courses. 

In  some  of  our  schools  a source  of  weakness  has  been  the  necessity  of 
employing  non-Christian  teachers  to  teach  Chinese  subjects,  such  as  language, 
literature,  classics,  etc.,  because  Christian  teachers  qualified  to  teach  these 


Educational  JF ork 


31 


subjects  could  not  be  secured.  This  condition  in  turn  is  due,  in  part  at  least, 
to  the  effort  of  the  schools  to  meet  the  demand  for  an  education  in  English. 
Such  an  education  has  a utilitarian  as  well  as  a cultural  value.  The  result 
is  that  many  Chinese  graduates  of  our  schools  prefer  to  fit  themselves  for 
commercial  posts  either  with  Chinese  or  foreign  firms  where  English  is  a 
great  asset,  rather  than  to  devote  the  time  necessary  to  become  teachers  of 
Chinese  subjects.  This  conditon  is  deeply  regretted  by  the  authorities  of  the 
schools  and  efforts  are  being  made  to  correct  it. 

/ 

Steps  to  be  Taken  in  Reopening  the  Schools 

What  is  to  be  the  next  step  in  the  Church’s  educational  work  in  China? 
Practically  all  our  schools  beyond  the  primary  grades  are  closed.  Some  of 
the  school  properties  are  occupied  by  the  military  and  may  be  so  occupied  for 
months  or  years  to  come.  Meanwhile,  alumni  and  students  of  our  schools 
and  colleges,  especially  the  latter,  have  been  urging  immediate  reopening. 
Such  requests  have  been  carefully  considered  by  the  Bishops  and  conferences 
concerning  them  have  been  had  with  both  American  and  Chinese  advisors.  It  is 
probable  that  educational  work  can  be  re-established  on  a reduced  scale  by 
September,  1928,  along  the  following  lines: 

( 1 ) Plan  to  reopen  as  soon  as  a sufficient  Chinese  and 
foreign  staff  is  available.  Informally  send  a message  to  the 
Chinese  educational  authorities  that  it  is  proposed  to  reopen 
as  a Christian  institution.  It  will  then  be  open  to  them  to 
allow  or  refuse  to  allow  required  Christian  teaching  in  the 
schools. 

(2)  Keep  all  schools  neutral,  politically,  with  no  propa- 
ganda in  any  institution,  either  for  or  against  any  political  group 
in  China. 

(3)  Let  it  be  known  that  the  institutions  are  open  primar- 
ily for  the  children  of  Christian  people.  If  the  parents  of 
other  children  desire  them  to  attend  the  school  they  will  be 
welcomed,  with  the  understanding  that  they  have  come  to  a 
Christian  school. 

(4)  For  the  present,  limit  the  number  of  pupils  to  a 
figure  much  helow  the  enrollment  prior  to  September,  1926. 

(5)  Indicate  readiness  to  give  the  Chinese  a larger  share 
in  the  direction  of  institutions,  as  rapidly  as  they  prove  compe- 
tent to  take  that  share. 

One  College  or  Two? 

In  view  of  the  numerous  difficulties  now  confronting  Christian  educa- 
tion in  China  and  the  heavy  expense  of  maintaining  two  institutions  of 
university  grade,  the  present  would  seem  to  be  an  appropriate  time  to  con- 
sider again  the  question  as  to  whether  all  higher  education  for  men,  in  the 
China  Mission,  should  be  conducted  in  one  institution  instead  of  two,  as  at 
present. 

The  Future 

In  determining  the  immediate  future  of  the  Church’s  educational  work 
in  China  the  following  considerations  should  be  kept  in  mind. 


32 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


At  present  there  is  no  central  or  stable  government.*  Unfortunately, 
as  this  report  is  being  prepared,  there  is  no  prospect  of  any.  There  is  great 
variety  in  the  regulations  issued  so  far  with  regard  to  the  conduct  of  private 
schools.  They  are  subject  to  change  at  any  time. 

Many  Chinese,  as  well  as  foreigners,  consider  the  present  requirements 
as  unfair  and  as  jeopardizing  school  properties.  They  further  consider  that 
registration  would  mean  that  the  control  by  the  Church  of  its  schools  would 
be  lost,  not  only  in  matters  of  administration,  but  in  matters  that  have  to  do 
with  the  discipline  and  moral  welfare  of  the  pupils. 

Through  compulsory  teaching  of  the  book  entitled,  “San  Min  Chu  I” — 
“Three  People’s  Principles” — schools  are  used  by  a political  party  for  propa- 
ganda purposes.  Many  passages  of  the  book  are  directed  to  arousing  antagon- 
ism, if  not  actual  hatred,  towards  other  nations. 

The  Sun  Yat  Sen  ceremony  commits  the  school  to  a practise  about  which, 
it  is  true,  there  is  a difference  of  opinion,  but  which  many  Chinese,  as  well 
as  foreigners,  think  substitutes  the  veneration  of  an  individual  for  the  Chris- 
tian worship,  which  has  been  a part  of  the  life  of  our  schools  from  the 
beginning. 

When  China  has  a stable  and  recognized  government  it  may  be  prac- 
ticable to  relate  the  Church’s  educational  work  to  a government  educational 
system.  Until  that  time  comes,  the  risks  involved  for  the  schools,  both  as  to 
their  character  and  property,  are  too  great.  The  regulations  may  be  changed 
any  day  as  indicated  by  past  experience.  Limitations  accepted  now  will 
become  permanent  limitations  and  likely  to  open  the  way  to  others  more 
drastic  in  character. 

Requirements  now  being  made  do  not  come  from  patrons  who  send  their 
sons  and  daughters  to  our  educational  institutions.  In  general,  the  patrons 
believe  in  the  kind  of  education  being  given  in  our  schools  rather  than  in  the 
kind  of  education  formulated  by  tbe  Chinese  authorities. 

*Since  this  report  was  written  the  Nationalist  Armies  have  entered  Peking.  The_  probability 
is  tliat  the  Nanking  (Southern)  Government  will  soon  be  recognized  as  the  responsible  central 
government  for  China. 


ACTION  ON  EDUCATIONAL  WORK 


The  following  action  has  been  taken  upon  the  section  of  the  Report, 
dealing  with  the  Educational  work: 

( 1 ) Whereas,  It  is  not  the  function  of  the  Church,  as  it  endeavors 
to  make  our  Lord  known  in  non-Cliristian  lands,  to  build  up  a system  of 
purely  secular  education:  And 

Whereas,  under  the  regulations  of  the  various  governments  of  China 
for  the  registration  of  schools,  the  liberty  of  Christian  worship  and  instruc- 
tion in  schools  is  seriously  curtailed : 

Therefore,  the  National  Council  informs  the  Bishops  in  China  that  in 
view  of  the  present  unsettled  conditions  it  cannot  authorize  the  registration  of 
our  schools,  but  hopes  that  at  least  some  of  the  schools  may  be  carried  on 
without  registration : And 

Further,  that,  whenever  a stable  government  shall  be  established  and 
a national  system  of  education  be  in  effective  operation,  it  will  consider 
sympathetically  any  regulations  regarding  private  schools,  supported  in  whole 
or  in  part  by  this  Church,  which  may  be  formulated  by  the  government:  And 
Further,  that,  educational  institutions  supported  in  whole  or  in  part 
by  the  aid  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States  shall  not  register  with  the 
Government  if  the  use  of  the  “Sun  Yat  Sen  Ceremony,”  or  the  teaching  of 
the  “San  Min  Chu  I”  is  required  by  the  government:  And 

Further,  that,  until  the  above  conditions  can  be  complied  with,  no 
authorization  be  given  to  register  any  educational  institutions,  supported 
in  whole  or  in  part  by  the  aid  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States. 

(2)  That  the  Department  of  Missions  instructs  the  Secretary  to  confer 
further  with  the  Bishops  in  China  concerning  the  possibility  of  conducting  all 
educational  work  of  college  or  university  grade  in  one  institution  and  report 
to  the  Department  of  Missions  as  soon  as  possible. 


33 


III.  MEDICAL  WORK 


The  medical  work  of  the  Christian  Church  in  China  is  universally 
acknowledged  as  a great  service  to  the  Chinese  people  and  an  impor- 
tant aid  in  the  building  up  of  the  Christian  community.  Originally  designed 
as  a means  of  securing  a hearing  for  the  Gospel,  it  has  taken  its  place  as 
one  of  the  outstanding  forms  of  Christian  service.  Most  doctors  in  charge 
of  mission  hospitals  are  in  China  because  of  their  desire  to  interpret  the 
Christian  w’ay  of  life  through  their  medical  skill.  While  they  do  not  con- 
sider the  medical  work  an  end  in  itself,  they  recognize  that  today  it  must 
be  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  highest  standards  of  medical  science 
and  that  no  aim,  however  exalted,  can  excuse  unworthy  equipment  or  low 
professional  standards.  No  words  are  too  strong  to  describe  the  devotion, 
energy  and  skill  with  which  our  American  doctors  and  nurses  go  about  their 
tasks. 

A survey  of  the  present  position  of  medical  missions  in  China,  made  by 
the  China  Medical  Association,  reveals  the  following  facts: 

Southern  and 

Central  China  Northern  China 


Number  of  Hospitals 

Total 

165 

Per  Cent 

Total 

70 

Per  Cent 

More  or  less  normal 

Running  under  temporary  ar- 

35 

22 

49 

70 

rangement  

71 

43 

17 

24 

Seized  bv  military  authorities 

4 

2 

none 

Closed 

55 

33 

4 

6 

Our  China  hospitals  have  steadily  increased  both  in  the  scope  and  quality 
of  their  work.  While  they  are  by  no  means  the  best  equipped  or  most  ade- 
quately staffed  mission  hospitals  in  China,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  nowhere  in 
China  has  more  devoted  and  effective  work  been  done  than  in  our  hospitals. 
'I'hey  are  located  as  follows: 

St.  Luke’s  Hospital,  Shanghai  (Diocese  of  Shanghai). 

St.  Elizabeth’s  Hospital,  Shanghai  (Diocese  of  Shanghai). 

St.  Andrew’s  Hospital,  Wusih  (Diocese  of  Shanghai). 

The  Church  Hospital,  Zangzok  (Diocese  of  Shanghai). 

St.  James’  Hospital,  Anking  (Diocese  of  Anking). 

Church  General  Hospital,  Wuchang  (Diocese  of  Hankow). 

Of  these,  the  two  Shanghai  hospitals  and  the  hospital  in  Wuchang  are 
in  operation.*  The  other  three,  because  of  military  operations  or  occupation, 
and  the  general  unrest  caused  by  the  communist  propaganda,  have  been 
closed  since  March,  1927.  All  have  been  seriously  damaged. 

In  addition  to  the  fully  organized  hospitals,  useful  dispensaries  are  con- 
ducted at  Jessfield,  Yangchow,  Wuhu  and  Shasi.  These  dispensaries  with 
the  exception  of  Jessfield  and  Yangchow  have  no  resident  medical  staff  but 
are  meeting  a real  need  and  are  doing  a work  of  mercy  that  makes  its  impres- 
sion upon  the  Chinese  community. 

*In  April,  1928,  Dr.  Claude  M.  Lee  reopened  St.  Andrew’s,  Wusih.  A group  of  local 
Chinese  business  men  gave  about  $3300  (Mexican)  to  pay  for  repairs  necessitated  by  damage 
done  to  the  buildings  while  occupied  by  Chinese  soldiers. 

34 


Medical  IV ork 


35 


The  Commission  counted  it  a privilege  to  be  able  to  meet  personally 
the  Chinese  physicians,  both  men  and  women,  connected  with  the  three  hos- 
pitals now  operating. 

On  November'12th,  the  Commission  met  in  conference  with  the  Chinese 
and  American  doctors  and  nurses  connected  with  the  Shanghai  hospitals. 
Later  in  November  it  had  the  opportunity  of  personal  conference  with  the 
three  Chinese  and  the  one  American  woman  physician  at  the  Church  General 
Hospital  in  Wuchang. 

At  the  Shanghai  conference  careful  consideration  was  given  to  the  fun- 
damental questions  concerning  the  continuance  and  the  administration  of  our 
hospitals.  The  Shanghai  hospitals  have  suffered  comparatively  little  from 
military  aggression  or  communist  agitation.  The  conference  decided  that  it  is 
inadvisable  to  endeavor  to  reopen  any  hospitals  now  closed,  if  present  local 
conditions  or  government  interference  made  it  impossible  to  maintain  their 
Christian  character  and  management.  The  experience  of  some  hospitals, 
especially  in  South  China  where  government  requirements  and  economic  agi- 
tation have  compelled  closing,  proves  the  futility  of  endeavoring  to  conduct 
hospitals  unless  they  can  be  assured  of  freedom  from  interference. 

The  conference  decided  that  if  it  should  be  wise  to  reopen  hospitals  now 
closed,  in  interior  points,  the  most  effective  procedure  would  be  for  the  Ameri- 
can doctor  to  make  occasional  visits  to  such  points  with  a view  to  familiariz- 
ing the  people  gradually  with  the  return  of  the  foreigners  and  the  proposal 
to  reopen.  Bishop  Graves  has  accordingly  requested  that  Dr.  C.  M.  Lee 
of  Wusih  return  to  China  when  his  furlough  to  this  country  is  over  and  his 
period  of  post-graduate  study  will  have  been  completed.  He  is  expected  early 
in  March. 

Consideration  was  given  to  the  question  of  reopening  hospitals  with  a 
Chinese  staff,  provided  it  should  be  found  impossible  to  open  with  a foreign 
staff'.  The  Chinese  physicians  present  felt  that  the  time  had  not  come  for 
placing  such  heavy  responsibility  entirely  in  Chinese  hands.  One  of  the  main 
difficulties  arises  from  the  exercising  of  discipline  on  the  part  of  both  doctors 
and  nurses.  Moreover,  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  supply  of  well-trained 
and  qualified  Chinese  physicians  is  so  small  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  secure 
a staff,  wholly  Chinese,  qualified  to  administer  any  number  of  modern  hos- 
pitals. The  demand  for  Chinese  doctors  in  private  practise  in  Shanghai  is  so 
great  that  it  is  difficult  to  secure  men  willing  to  go  into  the  interior. 

The  Commission  was  interested  to  find  that,  for  the  first  time  in  its 
history,  the  Church  General  Hospital  is  being  operated  as  a unit.  Doors 
have  been  cut  in  the  walls  separating  the  men’s  and  women’s  departments. 
There  is  now  free  access  from  one  end  of  the  hospital  to  the  other.  It  should 
mean  increased  economy  and  efficiency  in  operation. 

An  interesting  effort  is  being  made  to  conduct  the  Church  General  Hos- 
pital, Wuchang,  with  a Chinese  physician  as  superintendent,  assisted  by  four 
other  Chinese  physicians  and  one  American  woman  physician.  The  Commis- 
sion gladly  gave  assurance  of  its  desire  to  do  everything  it  could  to  have 
this  experiment  receive  a fair  trial,  and,  if  possible,  insure  its  success. 

In  medical  circles  in  China  there  is  a growing  opinion  that  the  time  has 
come  to  discontinue  the  training  of  men  (or  “boys”  as  they  are  generally 
called)  as  nurses  for  the  male  wards  of  the  hospitals.  As  a rule  these  “boy” 
nurses  lack  the  tenderness  and  the  keen  sense  of  responsibility  that  character- 
ize women  nurses.  Some  yield  to  the  temptation  to  make  capital  out  of  their 


36 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


medical  knowledge  by  setting  up  as  physicians,  claiming  to  have  received  their 
medical  education  in  a mission  hospital..  The  results  are  often  disastrous  to 
the  patients  and  the  good  name  of  the  hospital  from  which  graduation  is 
claimed.  Some  hospitals  have  already  begun  to  replace  men  (except  as  order- 
lies) by  women,  as  nurses  for  patients  of  both  sexes.  While  this  experiment 
may  not  prove  to  be  the  way  out  of  the  difficulties  confronting  mission  hos- 
pitals in  providing  proper  care  for  their  patients  and  in  creating  a nursing 
profession,  it  certainly  deserves  encouragement. 

For  China,  as  for  all  other  mission  fields,  it  is  becoming  increasingly 
difficult  to  secure  the  services  of  qualified  American  physicians,  whether  men 
or  women,  for  the  salaries  offered  under  the  present  missionary  pay  table. 
This  is  especially  true  of  men  physicians.  Medical  education  requires  a 
longer  time  and  is  much  more  expensive  than  any  other  form  of  professional 
training.  Scholarships  are  rare  and  generally  insignificant  in  amount.  The 
medical  graduate  frequently  enters  upon  the  practise  of  his  profession  in  debt. 
This  he  can  work  off  in  a few  years  with  comparative  ease  if  he  remains  in 
the  United  States. 

Going  to  the  mission  field  in  debt,  tbe  young  American  physician  is 
burdened  with  anxiety  as  to  how  the  indebtedness  is  to  be  paid  off.  The 
practise  adopted  by  the  Department  of  Missions  during  the  last  few  years, 
of  giving  a limited  amount  of  financial  aid,  under  carefully  guarded  condi- 
tions, to  volunteers  for  the  mission  field,  who  are  studying  medicine  in  this 
country,  seems  wise. 

In  some  instances,  the  physician,  because  of  the  greater  public  interest 
that  generally  attaches  to  him  in  the  community,  is  frequently  required  to 
entertain  and  to  secure  public  contacts  in  ways  involving  considerable  expense. 
In  passing,  it  may  be  noted  that  few  people  at  home  realize  the  number 
of  calls  upon  the  personal  funds  of  the  average  missionary  in  meeting  expenses 
involved  in  the  social  customs  of  many  mission  countries,  especially  those  in 
the  Orient.  Often  it  would  be  simple  justice  to  provide  a mission  station 
with  an  appropriation  for  such  inescapable  expenses. 

The  medical  missionary,  especially  if  connected  with  a well-established 
hospital,  has  an  earning  power  which  his  fellow  workers  in  some  other  lines 
of  service  have  not.  This  is  clearly  indicated  by  a comparison  of  the  amounts 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  average  mission  hospital  and  the  amount 
of  its  average  total  income  and  expenditure. 

There  is  a disturbing  tendency  on  the  part  of  some  Chinese  physicians 
to  expect  salaries  equal  in  amount  to  the  salaries  of  foreign  physicians.  This 
is  especially  true  in  the  case  of  Chinese  who  have  had  post-graduate  w'ork 
abroad.  They  seem  not  to  realize  two  facts. 

First,  that  their  medical  education  in  China  has  been  almost  entirely 
provided  for  them  and  that  frequently  their  post-graduate  study  abroad  has 
been  provided,  either  in  whole  or  in  part. 

Secondly,  that  a person  living  in  his  own  country  and  more  or  less 
closely  following  the  social  standards  of  the  country,  requires  a less 
amount  than  the  foreigner  for  the  maintenance  of  an  equal  standard  of 
comfort. 

No  one  would  question  the  duty  of  a mission  hospital  to  provide  for 
members  of  its  Chinese  staff  as  good  a support,  relatively,  as  for  its  foreign 
staff.  To  do  this,  however,  does  not  require  a salary  equal  in  amount  to 
that  provided  for  the  support  of  the  foreigner. 


Medical  JV ork 


37 


St.  John’s  Medical  School 

The  medical  department  of  St.  John’s  University  was  the  first  medical 
school  established  Jn  China.  Its  roll  of  graduates  is  a long  one.  Most  of 
the  graduates  now  living  are  engaged  in  important  work,  either  of  an  insti- 
tutional or  private  character.  The  closing  of  the  Yale  Medical  School  in 
Changsha,  because  of  the  communist  troubles  in  the  fall  of  1926,  has  thrown 
an  additional  burden  on  St.  John’s.  Most  of  the  Yale  students  have  come 
to  Shanghai  to  complete  their  education.  Modern  medical  education  is  of 
such  a character  that  it  is  practically  impossible  for  any  one  communion  to 
bear  all  the  expense  of  a medical  school.  On  the  other  hand,  great  difficulty 
has  been  experienced  in  trying  to  organize  a union  medical  school  in  Shanghai. 
On  numerous  occasions,  St.  John’s  University  has  manifested  its  willingness 
to  take  part  in  any  well-considered  union  scheme  that  will  insure  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  gains  that  St.  John’s  has  made  for  the  cause  of  medical  education. 
For  the  present  academic  year,  St.  John’s  is  helping  to  make  the  work  of  the 
medical  school  of  the  Chung  San  University  (a  government  institution) 
more  effective  by  contributing  the  services  of  some  of  the  St.  John’s  teachers. 
This  tentative  arrangement  is  likely  to  continue  for  the  next  two  years.  It 
seems  wise  that  no  permanent  alliance  should  be  made  with  a government 
institution  under  present  conditions. 


ACTION  ON  MEDICAL  WORK 

The  following  action  has  been  taken  upon  the  section  of  the  Report, 
dealing  with  the  Medical  Work: 

(1)  That  the  Church’s  medical  work  in  China  be  given  the  fullest 
possible  support  and  that  the  Department  of  Missions  continue,  upon  the 
request  of  the  Bishops,  to  spare  no  efforts  to  enlist  American  doctors,  both 
men  and  women,  and  American  nurses,  qualified  by  Christian  character  and 
professional  training  and  experience,  not  only  to  give  the  best  type  of  medical 
service,  but  also  to  train  Chinese  physicians,  both  men  and  women,  for  the 
responsible  positions  in  our  hospitals  and  to  train  nurses  for  both  clinical  and 
supervision  work. 

(2)  That  every  practicable  effort  be  made  to  continue  and  to  improve 
the  work  of  St.  John’s  Medical  School,  in  Shanghai,  and  that  the  authorities 
of  St.  John’s  University  be  assured  of  the  desire  of  the  Department  of  Mis- 
sions, so  far  as  financial  considerations  permit,  to  assist  St.  John’s  Medical 
School  to  take  such  part  in  co-operative  efforts  for  medical  education  as 
may  be  approved  by  the  Bishop  and  the  university  authorities. 


IV.  CHURCH  propf:rty  and  titles 


The  estimated  value  of  land  and  buildings  in  the  three  dioceses  in  China 
is  approximately  as  follows : 


Diocese  oi  Shanghai $2,650,000 

Diocese  of  Anking 450,000 

Diocese  of  Hankow 1,100,000 


$4,200,000  (U.  S.  Gold) 

The  Commission  considered  with  the  Bishops  in  China  the  question  of 
titles  to  property.  It  later  received  from  Mr.  M.  P.  Walker,  treasurer  of  the 
China  Mission,  the  following  report  dated  Eebruary  28,  1928: 

“I  have  looked  into  the  matter  of  the  titles  of  the  Mission  property, 
as  you  suggested,  with  the  following  residts; 

“In  the  District  of  Shanghai  the  property  registered  in  the  City  of 
Shanghai  is  all  on  foreign  title  deed.  (This  means  that  the  deed  is 
written  in  both  Chinese  and  English,  has  been  passed  through  the  proper 
consulate  and  is  registered  in  the  consulate). 

“The  old  deeds  for  the  original  property  in  Hongkew  is  in  the  name 
of  the  vrotestant  Episcopal  Mission.  All  the  later  deeds,  during  Bishop 
Graves’  episcopate,  are  in  the  name  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America. 

“In  the  outstations  all  the  deeds,  as  far  as  I can  find,  are  in  the 
name  of  the*  (American  Church  Mission),  and  almost 

all  have  been  stamped  at  the  Chinese  Land  Offices  and  registered  in 
the  American  Consulate. 

“In  the  District  of  Hankow  the  property  owned  in  the  foreign 
concession  is  registered  in  the  name  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  Most  of  the  deeds  outside  of  the  concession  are  in 
the  name  of  the*  (American  Church  Mission),  though 

some  few  of  them  seem  to  be  in  the  name  of  the  Chung  Hwa  Sheng 
Kung  Hui,  the  Church  in  China. 

“In  the  District  of  Anking,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  all  the 
deeds  are  written  in  Chinese  in  the  name  of  the* 

(American  Church  Mission).  The  majority  of  them  have  been 
stamped  in  the  Chinese  Land  Office  and,  possibly,  half  have  been  re- 
corded in  the  American  Consulate. 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)  M.  P.  Walker, 

Treasurer, 

While  property  is  held  under  different  titles  as  indicated,  the  Bishops 
believe  that  it  is  all  fully  secured.  They  recognize  the  advisability,  where 
practicable,  of  having  all  property  vested  in  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  but  think  it  unwise  at  the  present  time  to  try  to  transfer 
titles  now  under  any  other  designation,  to  the  Society. 

All  deeds  are  in  safe  keeping  in  Shanghai.  Mr.  T.  J.  Hollander,  now 
connected  with  the  Shanghai  office,  is  making  a careful  examination  of  the 
deeds  of  the  Diocese  of  Hankow. 

*Tn  the  original  letter  the  spaces  left  blank  in  the  above  contain  the  Chinese  characters 
meaning  “The  American  Church  ^lission.” 


38 


Insurance — Property  Losses  and  Reparations 


39 


V.  INSURANCE 

All  buildings  are  properly  covered  by  insurance  against  fire,  usually  in  an 
amount  slightly  greater  than  their  cost.  Insurance  on  risks  other  than  fire 
(e.  g.,  loss  through  looting  or  acts  of  war),  can  be  secured,  if  at  all  in 
China  at  present,  only  at  prohibitive  rates. 

Wherever  local  conditions  justify,  all  buildings  are  equipped  with  emer- 
gency fire  extinguishers,  such  as  “Pyrene”  and  “Foamite.” 

All  three  mission  offices  are  equipped  with  proper  safes  for  the  keeping 
of  valuable  papers.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  main  office  at  20  Ming- 
hong  Road,  Shanghai.  It  also  contains  a large  vault  to  which  have  now 
been  transferred  all  deeds  to  property,  as  indicated  above. 

VI.  PROPERTY  LOSSES  AND  REPARATIONS 

Since  September  1,  1926,  much  of  the  Church’s  property  in  China  has 
been  damaged  as  the  result  of  warfare  between  contending  armies  (e.  g., 
during  the  siege  of  Wuchang),  from  military  occupation,  from  attacks  by 
communists,  and  from  looting  by  soldiers  or  by  local  people. 

It  is  impossible  to  secure  an  exact  statement  of  losses  until  American 
members  of  the  mission  staff  are  able  to  return  to  all  the  stations  and  deter- 
mine what  damage  has  been  done.  There  are  some  cases  where  the  cost 
of  replacement  is  likely  to  be  heavy. 

In  the  Diocese  of  Shanghai  the  greatest  damage  has  been  done  at  the 
Central  Theological  School  in  Nanking,  and  at  the  Mahan  School  compound 
in  Yangchow. 

In  the  Diocese  of  Hankow  the  greatest  damage  has  been  done  at  St. 
Joseph’s  School  compound  in  Wuchang,  an  institution  established  and  main- 
tained by  the  Chinese,  and  Simakow,  a small  city  on  the  Han  River,  where 
the  Church  property  has  been  entirely  destroyed  by  fire  as  a result  of  com- 
munist agitation.  Huntington  School  in  Ichang  and  the  two  foreign  resi- 
dences in  Shasi  are  reported  badly  damaged. 

The  question  of  reparations  should  be  frankly  faced  even  though  at  this 
time  there  is  no  government  to  which  any  claim  could  be  presented. 

The  consular  officials  have  asked  for  a statement  of  losses.  This  infor- 
mation will  be  supplied  as  it  becomes  known  what  the  losses  actually  are. 

Meanwhile,  it  will  be  well  for  the  Department  of  Missions  to  consider 
the  principle  involved.  In  the  judgment  of  some  people  it  is  desirable  that 
no  reparations  for  losses  be  either  asked  for  or  accepted.  In  the  judgment  of 
others  it  is  not  for  the  good  of  the  Chinese  government  or  the  Chinese  people 
that  damage  and  destruction  for  which  they  are  responsible  should  be  allowed 
to  pass  without  either  apology  or  reparation.  Until  there  is  a settled  gov- 
ernment in  China,  decision  with  regard  to  the  exact  course  to  be  followed 
will  have  to  remain  in  abeyance. 

At  present  there  exists  this  curious  situation.  The  government  of  the 
United  States,  in  accordance  with  Congressional  action,  is  returning  to  China 
payments  made  on  account  of  the  Boxer  Indemnity  of  1900,  at  the  same 
time  that  the  property  of  American  citizens  is  being  seized,  their  houses 
occupied  and  damaged  and  sometimes  destroyed  by  the  Chinese.  The  ques- 
tion may  fairly  be  asked,  would  it  not  be  reasonable  for  the  United  States 


40 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


government  to  ascertain  the  losses  of  its  nationals  and  provide  for  those  losses 
from  funds  which  it  is  now  returning  to  China. 

VII.  PERSONAL  LOSSES  AND  REPARATIONS 

A number  of  the  American  members  of  the  Mission  staff  have  suffered 
partial  or  complete  loss  of  personal  belongings  and  household  effects.  In  some 
instances  this  has  been  due  to  outbursts  of  violence  such  as  the  Nanking  inci- 
dent in  March,  1927.  In  other  cases  it  has  been  due  to  the  wanton  destruc- 
tion by  soldiers  after  taking  possession  of  houses  missionaries  had  been  obliged 
to  vacate.  In  other  instances  it  has  been  due  to  looting  by  the  local  popula- 
tion after  the  departure  of  missionaries. 

Insurance  policies  on  personal  effects  provided  no  compensation  for  losses 
under  the  foregoing  circumstances. 

In  the  conference  with  the  Bishops  in  Shanghai  on  November  5,  1927, 
the  question  of  reparations  was  considered.  The  Bishops  have  taken  steps 
to  record  with  the  United  States  consuls,  at  their  request,  statements  of  losses 
suffered  by  individuals  as  well  as  by  the  American  Church  Mission.  No  one 
can  tell  whether  any  official  compensation  will  ever  be  made.* 

Meanwhile  some  of  the  members  of  the  mission  staff  are  faced  by  a 
serious  predicament.  Those  who  hope  to  return  to  their  stations  have  not  the 
household  equipment  to  enable  them  to  re-establish  their  homes.  Those  who 
do  not  plan  to  return  to  China  are  in  a similar  position  in  this  country.  The 
question  was  raised  whether  the  Church  in  the  United  States  might  reason- 
ably consider  that  those  who  had  lost  personal  effects  as  a result  of  the  dis- 
turbances in  China,  are  in  the  same  position  as  the  missionaries  in  Japan 
who  lost  their  personal  and  household  effects  in  the  earthquake  and  fire  in 
September,  1923.  In  the  latter  case  the  Church  partially  compensated  those 
who  had  lost  their  property. 

The  Bishops  at  present  have  not  sufficient  information  to  supply  accurate 
statements  of  such  personal  losses.  The  Commission  asked  them  to  secure  the 
information  and  to  supply  it  to  the  Department  of  Missions  as  soon  as 
possible. 

The  Bishops  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  reasonable  for  the 
Church  in  the  United  States  to  make  this  compensation,  but  emphasized  the 
fact  that  none  of  the  missionaries  is  making  any  claim  for  compensation. 
If  the  Church  desires  to  aid  them,  its  action  will  be  welcomed  and  deeply 
appreciated. 

Bishop  Graves,  who  was  host  in  Shanghai  for  the  missionaries  who  were 
obliged  to  leave  their  stations  in  all  three  dioceses,  informed  the  Commission 
that  he  had  never  once  heard  any  members  of  our  staff  complain  about  personal 
losses,  even  when  they  had  lost  everything. 

* Since  this  report  was  written,  tlie  Government  of  the  United  States  has  negotiated  an 
agreement  with  the  Nanking  Government  with  a view  to  determining  and  making  reparations  for 
losses  resulting  from  the  incident  of  March  24,  1927  only. 


ACTION  ON  REPARATIONS 


The  following  action  has  been  taken  upon  the  sections  of  the  Report, 
dealing  w'ith  property  and  personal  losses  and  reparations: 

( 1 ) That  the  Bishops  in  China  be  informed  that  the  Department  of 
Missions  believes  that  reparation  should  be  made  by  China  for  damage  to  and 
destruction  of  mission  property  and  ^the  personal  property  of  missionaries. 
It  recognizes  that  under  the  circumstances  at  present  obtaining  in  China, 
it  is  not  practicable  to  formulate  any  final  policy.  It  instructs  the  Secretary 
of  the  Department  to  keep  informed  concerning  the  matter  and  to  report  to 
the  Department  of  Missions  from  time  to  time  on  the  subject. 

(2)  That  without  committing  itself  at  this  time  to  any  definite  course 
of  action  with  regard  to  compensation  of  missionaries  in  China,  for  loss  of 
household  effects,  clothing,  etc.,  the  Department  of  Missions  approves  of 
the  action  of  the  Commission  in  requesting  the  Bishops  in  China  to  supply 
information  on  the  subject  and  assures  the  Bishops  in  China  that  it  will  be 
ready  to  give  further  consideration  to  the  matter  as  soon  as  full  information 
is  at  hand. 


41 


COxNCLUSION 


AS  we  studied  past  and  present  conditions  in  the  Church  in  China  we 
. thanked  God  and  took  courage  for  the  future.  The  Church  has  been 
wisely  and  solidly  established.  It  is  ecclesiastically  independent.  It  is  car- 
ing for  some  of  its  local  concerns.  It  is  growing  gradually  in  strength 
and  the  sense  of  responsibility  to  maintain  and  spread  the  faith  by  which  it 
lives.  It  has  still  a long  way  to  go  before  it  will  realize  the  ideals  of  those — - 
both  Chinese  and  foreigners — who  have  given  their  best  to  its  guidance  and 
welfare. 

Few  would  dare  to  predict  what  the  immediate  future  may  have  in 
store  for  China’s  people.  They  are  feeling  the  impact  of  new  and  sometimes 
vicious  ideas  and  practices.  National  customs  and  convictions  are  being 
shaken.  China  needs  to  know  the  constructive  power  of  the  Gospel. 

The  question  is  asked  by  some  today:  “Would  you  advise  young 
American  men  and  women,  desiring  to  invest  their  lives  wisely  for  the  wel- 
fare of  others,  to  give  favorable  consideration  to  China  as  a field  of  service?” 

Our  reply  is  emphatically  “Yes.”  China  needs  now,  and  will  need  for 
a long  time,  the  highest  gifts  of  heart  and  mind  that  the  Christian  Church 
of  the  West  can  supply,  through  her  choicest*men  and  women. 

It  was  the  Gospel  of  the  Living  Christ  that  saved  the  western  world 
from  ignorance  and  barbarism.  Only  the  Gospel  of  the  Living  Christ  can 
save  China  in  this  time  of  unsettlement,  uncertainty  and  suffering.  As  the 
Bishops  of  the  Chung  Hua  Sheng  Kung  Hui  said  in  their  pastoral  letter  of 
November,  1927: 

“There  are  encouragements  which  in  our  opinion  far  outweigh  the 
pain  and  sorrow  of  the  disappointments  and  loss.  We  are  convinced 
that  the  victory  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  already  assured  in  China, 
and  that  its  claim  is  being  established  to  be  the  one  force  which  can 
unify  and  bring  peace  and  salvation  to  this  great  country.” 

That  Gospel  must  be  revealed  in  Christ-like  lives.  It  must  be  told  over 
and  over  again  in  church  and  chapel  and  preaching  hall.  It  must  be  taught 
in  our  schools  and  exemplified  in  our  hospitals. 

Yes,  “the  one  hope  for  China  is  Christ,  and  when  other  teachings  have 
failed,  the  oppressed  and  starving  people  of  this  land  will  surely  turn  their 
longing  eyes  to  Him.” 

IVIay  the  Church  in  the  United  States  show  the  courage  and  faith  of 
the  ambassadors  for  Christ  she  has  sent  to  China.  May  she  enter  into  their 
plans  and  their  hopes  and  join  in  their  prayers  and  their  sacrifices.  Then  she 
will  share  with  her  Lord  in  the  victory  that  will  surely  be  His. 

Louis  C.  S.vnford, 

Bishop  of  Sa?i  Joaquin. 

John  W.  AVood, 

Secretary,  Department  of  Missions. 


42 


APPENDIX  A 


LETTER  AND  MEMORANDUM  ON  EDUCATION  FROM  BISHOPS  ROOTS, 
HUNTINGTON  AND  GILMAN 

Bishop  Roots’  Letter,  Signed  Also  by  Bishop  Huntington 
AND  Bishop  Gilman* 

In  submitting  this  memorandum  it  is  assumed  that,  of  course,  we  could 
not  register  if  impossible  demands  werp  embodied  in  the  regulations,  such  as  the 
Hankow  regulations  of  last  year  requiring  every  school  to  accept  the  govern- 
ment’s appointment  of  a superintendent  of  student  activities,  who  should 
receive  one-tenth  of  the  revenue  of  the  school. 

Should  there  be  the  demand  that  no  religious  teaching  or  worship  be  given 
or  conducted  at  any  time  on  the  school  property  or  in  its  buildings,  this  demand 
would  require  consideration  de  novo.  No  such  demand  has  been  as  yet  made 
by  any  duly  recognized  governmental  authority  and,  of  course,  we  do  not 
anticipate  any  such  demand  but  it  might  be  made,  I suppose,  and  I simply  want 
to  indicate  in  this  covering  note  that  our  memorandum  does  not  provide  for  this 
contingency. 

Furthermore,  it  is  manifest  that  many  vexatious  orders  may  be  promul- 
gated by  the  government,  but  these  cannot  be  foreseen  in  detail.  Our  desire  is 
to  regularize  and  localize  our  position  under  constitutional  governmental  pro- 
visions, and  then  strive  for  reasonable  regulations  and  resist  unreasonable  and 
iinlawful  ones. 

I trust  that  with  the  above  understanding,  the  Department  of  IMissions 
will  authorize  us  in  the  registration  of  our  schools,  so  far  as  this  may  be 
possible. 

I am  sorry  that  I could  not  get  this  put  through  sooner,  but  I trust  that 
even  so,  you  may  be  able  to  consider  it  before  you  reach  Manila.  We  shall 
appreciate  an  acknowledgment  from  you,  although  w'e  understand  that  you 
may  not  be  in  a position,  as  a Commission,  to  give  even  an  intimation  of  your 
own  attitude  on  the  questions  which  are  now  raised. 

Faithfullv  yours, 

D.  T.  H UNTINGTON, 

Bishop  of  Ankiny, 

Alfred  A.  Gilman, 

Suffrayan  Bishop  of  Hanko’w, 

Logan  H.  Roots, 

Bishop  of  Hankonv. 

MEMORANDUM  ON  EDUCATION 

Submitted  by  the  Bishop  of  Anking  and  the  Bishop  and  the  Bishop  Suffragan  of 
Hankow. 

Introduction 

(1)  We  regard  it  as  essential  that  the  Church  enter  sympathetically  into  the 
national  aspirations  of  the  Chinese  people.  If  the  Church  can  do  this  we  may  hope 
that  its  place  as  a constructive  force  in  the  life  of  the  nation  will  be  recognized  and 
that  all  its  activities  will  be  freed  from  suspicion  and  the  resultant  interference. 


See  page  29. 


43 


44 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


The  national  aspirations  include  a demand  for  a nation-wide  and  inclusive  system 
of  education  adapted  to  the  needs  of  China.  We  believe  that  recognition  of  the  right 
of  the  government  to  require  that  Church  schools  enter  into  such  a system  is  a necessary 
step  in  order  to  secure  from  the  government  academic  and  religious  freedom  in  our 
schools. 

(2)  The  following  principles  and  rules  seem  to  us  sufficient  as  an  indication  of  the 
purpose  of  our  educational  work  and  as  a guide  in  adapting  it  to  the  new  conditions 
in  China. 

We  ask  the  Department  of  Missions  to  consider  these  principles  and  rules  and 
express  in  as  definite  a way  as  possible  their  attitude  towards  them  in  order  to  secure 
wholehearted  co-operation  between  the  Church  in  America  and  the  Church  in  China. 

Principles 

(1)  As  a necessary  and  integral  part  of  providing  education  in  accord  with  the 

purposes  set  forth  by  the  government,  one  of  the  essential  objects  of  our  schools  shall  be 

the  production  of  Christian  character  in  the  lives  of  the  students. 

(2)  We  recognize  the  individual  religious  liberty  of  the  students  in  allowing  them 
to  attend  classes  in  religion  and  religious  services  or  not  as  they  elect;  and  we  claim 
corporate  religious  liberty  for  our  schools  to  provide  such  classes  in  religion  and  such 
religious  services  as  they  may  think  fit. 

National  Government’s  Statement  of  Purpose  in  Schools 

Primary  education,  based  upon  the  “Three  Principles,”  has  as  its  purpose  the 

fundamental  training  of  the  children  necessary  to  enable  them  to  meet  the  needs  of  the 

life  of  the  nation. 

The  purpose  of  secondary  education,  in  accordance  with  the  “Three  Principles,” 
shall  be  to  complete  the  fundamental  training  of  primary  education,  and  to  increase 
the  knowledge  and  vocational  skill  of  the  students  so  that  they  may  be  able  to  adapt 
themselves  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  life  of  the  nation. 

The  purpose  of  a university  or  college  is  to  offer  for  study  the  continually  increas- 
ing knowledge  of  the  world  and  to  promote  cultural  progress  in  order  to  realize  in 
practice  the  “Three  Principles.”  ' 

Rules  to  be  Applied  in  All  Our  Schools 

(1)  All  our  schools  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  trustees  or  directors  approved 
by  tbe  diocesan  authorities  and,  if  so  desired,  by  the  Department  of  Missions;  and  a 
majority  of  the  trustees  or  directors  shall  be  Christian. 

(2)  Each  school  shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the  Bishop  and  be  open  at  all 
times  to  inspection  by  his  duly  appointed  agents. 

(3)  Each  school  shall  have  as  one  of  its  essential  objects  the  production  of  Chris- 
tian character  in  the  lives  of  its  students. 

(4)  Regular  instruction  shall  be  provided  for  the  pupils  in  the  facts  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Christian  religion. 

(5)  Proper  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  training  of  children  in  Christian 
worship. 

(6)  Attendance  on  religious  exercises  and  instruction  shall  be  voluntary  on  the 
part  of  the  pupils. 

(7)  The  teachers  shall  be  responsible  for  seeing  that  the  provisions  of  the  pre- 
ceding resolutions  are  made  effective. 

(8)  Due  care  shall  be  taken  by  the  trustees  or  directors  or  principals  that  no  teacher 
be  employed  except  those  who  will  promote  the  educational  object  of  the  school  as 
required  by  the  government  and  the  moral  and  religious  object  of  the  school  as  required 
by  us  as  Christians. 

Memorandum  Concerning  Sun  Yat  Sen  Memorial  Weekly  Meeting 

(1)  The  communists  are  militant  atheists  and  therefore  would  not  tolerate  a 
religious  service. 

(2)  The  Kuomingtang  stand  for  the  abolition  of  required  attendance  at  religious 
worship  or  instruction  in  schools  and  therefore  could  not  require  this  if  it  were  a 
religious  service. 


Appendix  A 


45 


(3)  The  easiest  way  to  combat  any  tendency  to  make  this  service  religious  is  for 
Christians  to  carry  it  on  as  a purely  civil  requirement. 

Memorandum  in  Regard  to  the  Teaching  of  the  “San  Min  Chu  I” 

These  things  will  be  taught  under  any  circumstances,  whether  within  or  outside 
our  schools.  If  taught  by  men  and  women  who  are  well  informed  they  will  be  of 
benefit  to  the  learners.  In  other  cases,  our  problem  is  that  of  instructing  the  teachers. 


APPENDIX  B 

PEKING  REGULATIONS 


I 

Regulations  Governing  the  Recognition  of  Educational  Institutions 
Established  by  Funds  Contributed  from  Foreigners 

Regulations  governing  the  procedure  of  recognition,  promulgated  by  the  Ministry 
of  Education,  Peking,  November  16,  1925: 

(1)  Any  institution  of  whatever  grade  established  by  funds  contributed  from 
foreigners,  if  it  carries  on  its  work  according  to  the  regulations  governing  various 
grades  of  institutions  as  promulgated  by  the  Ministry  of  Education,  will  be  allowed 
to  make  application  for  recognition  at  the  office  of  the  proper  educational  authorities 
of  the  government  according  to  the  regulations  as  promulgated  by  the  Ministry  of 
Education  concerning  the  application  for  recognition  on  the  part  of  all  educational 
institutions. 

(2)  Such  an  institution  should  prefix  to  its  official  name  the  term  “szu  lih”  (pri- 
vately established). 

(3)  The  president  or  principal  of  such  an  institution  should  be  a Chinese.  If 
such  president  or  principal  has  hitherto  been  a foreigner  then  there  must  be  a Chinese 
vice-president,  who  shall  represent  the  institution  in  applying  for  recognition. 

( + ) If  the  institution  has  a board  of  managers,  more  than  half  the  board  must 
be  Chinese. 

(5)  The  Institution  shall  not  have  as  Its  purpose  the  propagation  of  religion. 

(6)  The  curriculum  of  such  an  institution  should  conform  to  the  standards  set 
b_v  the  Ministry  of  Education.  It  shall  not  include  religious  courses  among  the  required 
subjects. 


II 

Regulations  governing  application  for  recognition  of  schools  established  and  financed 
by  foreigners,  promulgated  by  the  Ministry  of  Education,  Peking,  November  19,  1927: 

The  public  is  hereby  notified  that  the  regulations  promulgated  by  order  No.  12 
In  November,  the  14th  year  of  the  Republic  of  China  (1925),  governing  application 
for  recognition  of  schools  established  and  financed  by  foreigners,  have  been  modified 
in  seven  articles  as  follows: 

Article  1:  Any  school  established  and  financed  by  foreigners  and  administered 
in  compliance  with  the  regulations  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Education  governing 
the  different  grades  of  schools,  may  apply  for  recognition  with  the  educational  authori- 
ties in  accordance  with  Article  21  of  the  ministry  regulations  for  the  modified  educa- 
tional system  concerning  the  establishment  of  both  general  arts  and  technical  courses, 
and  also  in  accordance  with  the  regulations  governing  application  for  recognition. 

Article  2:  Such  an  institution  shall  prefix  to  its  official  name  the  term  “Szu  lih” 
(privately  established). 

Article  3:  The  president  or  principal  of  such  an  institution  shall  be  a Chinese. 
If  the  president  or  principal  has  heretofore  been  a foreigner,  he  shall  be  replaced  with 
a Chinese,  who  shall  represent  the  institution  In  applying  for  recognition. 

Article  4:  If  the  institution  has  a board  of  managers,  more  than  half  of  the 
members  of  the  board  shall  be  Chinese. 

Article  5:  The  Institution  shall  not  practice  any  religious  rites  or  ceremonies,  and 
shall  not  have  as  Its  purpose  the  propagation  of  religion. 

Article  6:  The  curriculum  of  the  school  shall  conform  to  the  standards  set  by  the 
Ministry  of  Education  and  shall  not  Include  any  religious  course. 

Article  7:  These  modified  regulations  become  effective  on  the  dav  of  promulgation. 

46 


Appendix  B 


47 


CANTON  REGULATIONS 

I 

Education  regulations  issued  in  Canton,  November;  1^26: 

Regulations  for  Private  Schools 

Article  1:  Any  school  founded  by  a private  person  or  a legally  recognized  body 
is  considered  a “private  school.”  This  term  applies  also  to  a school  founded  by 
foreigners  and  missions. 

Article  2:  A private  school  must  be  under  the  supervision  and  direction  of  the 
educational  authority  of  the  government. 

Article  3:  The  name  of  such  a private  school  shall  definitely  indicate  its  nature, 
and  shall  be  prefixed  with  the  word  “piuvate.” 

Article  4:  The  founder  of  a private  school  shall  organize  a board  of  directors, 
on  whom  shall  rest  the  whole  responsibility  of  running  the  school.  Regulations  govern- 
ing the  board  of  directors  are  issued  separately. 

Article  5:  Permission  for  the  founding  of  a private  school,  or  for  any  change  to 
be  made  therein,  shall  be  secured  through  its  board  of  directors  from  the  responsible 
educational  authority.  A student  studying  in,  or  graduated  from,  a school  not  yet 
sanctioned  by  the  said  authority,  shall  have  no  recognized  standing. 

Article  6:  Permission  for  the  suspension  of  a school  shall  also  be  secured  through 
its  board  of  directors  from  the  responsible  educational  authority.  All  the  school  prop- 
erty and  belongings  will  then  be  liquidated  by  the  government  appointee,  together 
with  the  school  authority. 

Article  7:  The  president  or  principal  of  a private  school  shall  take  charge  of  the 
affairs  of  the  school,  and  shall  be  absolutely  responsible  to  the  board  of  directors.  The 
school  officers  and  teachers  shall  be  appointed  by  the  president  or  principal. 

Article  8:  A foreigner  shall  not  act  as  the  president  or  principal  of  a private 
school.  In  special  cases,  the  school  may  invite  him  to  be  an  adviser. 

Article  9:  The  organization  of  a private  school,  together  with  its  curriculum,  time 
schedule,  etc.,  shall  be  planned  on  the  basis  of  the  government  educational  code. 

Article  10:  Except  in  the  case  of  a special  department  (or  school)  of  religion,  a 
private  school  is  not  permitted  to  give  religion  as  a required  subject,  nor  is  religious 
propaganda  permitted  in  the  class  instruction. 

Article  11:  A private  school  is  not  allowed  to  compel  students  to  participate  in 
the  religious  exercises  of  the  school,  if  there  are  any. 

Article  12:  In  both  administration  and  instruction  a private  school  shall  follow 
the  government  regulations  and  the  orders  from  the  educational  authority,  and  shall 
report  to  the  latter  from  time  to  time. 

Article  13:  In  case  of  mismanagement  or  of  failure  to  follow  the  government 
regulations,  a private  school  can  be  dissolved  by  the  government  at  any  time. 

Article  14:  All  private  schools  which  have  not  been  registered  shall  apply  for 
registration  within  the  prescribed  date  after  the  promulgation  of  these  regulations. 

Article  15:  These  regulations  are  to  take  effect  from  the  day  of  their  promulga- 
tion. 


Regulations  for  the  Board  of  Directors  of  a Private  School 

Article  1:  The  founder  of  a private  school  is  represented  by  its  board  of  direc- 
tors, who  will  take  the  full  responsibility  for  conducting  the  school.  Permission  for 
organizing  the  board  of  directors  can  be  secured  by  the  founder  through  a petition  to 
the  responsible  educational  authority. 

Article  11:  Without  consent  from  the  responsible  educational  authority,  the  board 
mat'  not  dissolve  the  school  that  It  has  established. 

Article  13:  The  board  of  directors  of  any  private  school,  irrespective  of  whether 
it  is  founded  by  foreigners  or  Chinese,  shall  have  a Chinese  majority  of  members. 
The  chairman  and  representative  of  the  board  shall  also  be  Chinese. 


48 


Report  of  the  Commission  to  China 


II 

Educational  regulations  issued  by  the  National  University,  Nanking,  December  20, 
1927,  and  February  6,  1928: 

Regulations  for  Private  Schools 

Article  1:  Any  school  founded  by  a private  person  or  body  is  a “private  school.” 
This  term  applies  also  to  schools  founded  by  foreigners  and  missions. 

Article  2:  A private  school  must  be  under  the  supervision  and  direction  of  the 
educational  authority  of  the  government. 

Article  3:  The  founders  of  a private  school  shall  organize  a board  of  directors, 
on  whom  shall  rest  the  whole  responsibility  of  running  the  school.  Regulations  governing 
the  board  of  directors  of  private  schools  are  issued  separately. 

Article  4:  Permission  for  the  founding  of  a private  school,  for  any  change  to  be 
made  therein,  or  for  the  discontinuance  of  such,  shall  be  secured  from  the  responsible 
educational  authority.  In  the  case  of  private  professional  schools  and  institutions  of 
higher  education  and  the  boards  of  directors  thereof,  the  responsible  educational  author- 
ity shall  be  the  National  University;  and  in  the  case  of  private  middle  schools  and 
schools  of  lower  grades  and  the  boards  of  directors  thereof,  the  responsible  educational 
authority  shall  be  the  provincial  educational  authority. 

Article  5:  The  president  or  principal  of  a private  school  shall  be  absolutely 
responsible  to  the  board  of  directors  for  the  administration  of  the  school. 

Article  6:  The  president  or  principal  of  a private  school  shall  be  a Chinese. 

Article  7 : The  organization  of  a private  school,  together  with  its  curriculum,  etc., 
shall  be  made  according  to  the  government  educational  code. 

Article  8:  A private  school  is  not  permitted  to  give  religion  as  a required  sub- 
ject, nor  is  religious  propaganda  permitted  in  the  class  instruction.  If  there  are  any 
religious  exercises,  students  shall  not  be  compelled  to  participate. 

Article  9:  In  case  of  mismanagement  or  of  failure  to  follow  the  government 
regulations,  a private  school  may  be  dissolved  by  the  government. 

Article  10:  All  private  schools  shall  apply  for  registration  according  to  the  regu- 
lations for  the  registration  of  private  schools,  which  are  issued  separately. 

Article  11 : These  regulations  are  to  take  effect  from  the  day  of  their  promulgation. 

Regulations  for  the  Board  of  Directors  of  a Private  School 

Article  1:  The  founders  of  a private  school  are  represented  by  their  board  of 
directors,  who  shall  take  the  full  responsibility  for  conducting  the  school. 

Article  11:  If  the  board  of  directors  wish  to  dissolve  or  change  the  school,  they 
shall  secure  the  permission  of  the  responsible  educational  authority. 

Article  12:  Under  special  circumstances  foreigners  may  be  members  of  the  board 
of  directors  but  they  shall  not  constitute  the  majority.  The  head  or  chairman  of  the 
board  of  directors  shall  be  a Chinese. 


1 Ed.  8-8.  5M;  Con. 


Additional  copies  of  this  Report 
may  be  obtained  by  addressing 
the  Department  of  Missions,  281 
Fourth  Avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


